November 26th 2023.
Sir Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One world champion, hasn't won a race since the 2021 season. After Max Verstappen's record-extending 19th victory of 2023 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, it is uncertain if Hamilton and Mercedes will be able to rival Red Bull for the title in 2024.
Verstappen's success at the Grand Prix was commanding, with the three-time champion crossing the finishing line over 18 seconds ahead of the runner-up, Charles Leclerc. It was a season of dominance for Red Bull, as they won 21 of the 22 races.
Hamilton, who came in at ninth at Yas Marina, was not confident that his team would be able to bridge the gap over the upcoming winter break. When asked if there was satisfaction in Mercedes finishing second in the Constructors' Championship ahead of Ferrari, Hamilton bluntly replied, "Not particularly."
The British driver expressed his contentment in simply “surviving” the season, as he finished third and best of the rest in the standings. When asked what he could take away from 2023, he replied, "Not too much. It’s not been a great year in general. The fact I survived it. Probably that’s about it."
When asked if Mercedes could challenge Red Bull in 2024, he responded, "At this moment, I don’t really know. For Red Bull to win by 18 seconds and they haven’t developed their car since August is definitely a concern. We have learned a lot about the car and it’s just down to the team now. They know what they need to do. Whether or not we will get there, we will see."
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying, "Let’s be honest, they [Red Bull] have a gap because they got well out of the blocks with the new regulations and in order to catch up, that’s a monumental endeavour…hopefully they level off with their development and speed and we can catch up." Wolff further commented that Mercedes’ 2023 car was a "fundamental problem" and that "drivers have no confidence in the car."
It remains to be seen if Mercedes can close the gap to Red Bull and compete for the 2024 Formula One title.
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