Mercedes technical chief James Allison has not doubts over star driver Lewis Hamilton’s ability behind the steering wheel, but believes the seven-time world champion could face a stiff challenge to rediscover his past success.
Hamilton came ever so close to reach an elusive eighth world championship in 2021, but a crushing defeat in the season-finale has been detrimental to his confidence.
The Mercedes driver has failed to win a single race in the past two seasons, but Allison admits that the challenger at his disposal has largely been responsible for the 39-year-old’s woes.
Hamilton recently signed a two-year contract extension that saw him commit his future to the Silver Arrows till the end of the 2025 season. There is even a belief that he could continue racing beyond this deal, but the Stevenage-born driver will need assistance from Mercedes in his quest to make history in the sport.
Allison discussed Hamilton’s state of mind heading into the upcoming season.
“I think you’d struggle to find a driver anywhere in the grid that wasn’t motivated,” Allison said.
“I think that sort of comes with the territory with them. And generally speaking, the more successful the drivers have been, the more sort of inescapable that compulsive need to win is.
“In Lewis’s case, it’s just a core part of who he is, so there’s no doubt about his motivation to get back to winning ways. But whether or not he can do that, will be much more in the hands of the equipment we’ve given him than in his own hands. He’s always had that ability there.”
Meanwhile, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also signed a new deal to ensure that he stays in this role for another three seasons.
Wolff discussed Hamilton’s hunger to win despite his advanced age as an F1 driver.
“The answer is clearly yes in capital letters. There is a reason Lewis is a seven-time world champion and has broken all the records,” Wolff said.
“His ability is on a different level. If we are able to give him a car that he actually feels, that drives in a way that he can trust, he will be on the level that’s needed to win the championship. 39 is no age.”
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