Lewis Hamilton will be happy to consign his mercurial mercedes to history, but the seven-time Formula 1 world champion is still in no rush to complete a season now offering so little reward.
The Briton, 138 points behind the leader of Red Bull Max Verstappen with eight races remaining, told reporters during the Dutch Grand Prix that he was focused on next year’s car and that every lap counted.
“I generally like the job we do, whether we’re fighting for the top spot or elsewhere,” said Hamilton, who fought Verstappen for the title until the controversial final round in 2021.
“I always like meeting up with engineers and mechanics.
“And I still love the challenge of fighting this car every day…the amount of engineering we have to do to dial it in is tricky and I would say it probably increases your sensitivity to improving the engineering side.
“I never want to wish time would pass again…there will be a lot of information to acquire in the second half of the season.”
The 37-year-old, who is on his longest winless streak, said he was focused on commentary.
“That’s really where I apply a lot of my time, it’s just communicating with all the heads of different departments really to make sure we don’t leave anything to chance,” he added.
“It could be the brakes, the gear ratios, the suspension, the handling, the aerodynamics…to just help them figure out where they design the car for next year.”
Hamilton said the key elements must already be approved.
“(It’s) about making sure you catch them (the engineers) before they sign off on these things and get things going that maybe we haven’t had time on to focus on the past,” he explained.
“I’m enjoying it. We’ve won the last eight constructors’ world titles and I have full confidence in my team and my engineers that we’ll get there.
“It’s just that with the cost cap and the (limited) time in the wind tunnel, it’s not as simple and easy as before, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get there.”
Defending Red Bull champion Max Verstappen is 93 points clear of his closest challenger, team-mate Sergio Perez, after 14 of 22 races.
The Briton, 138 points behind the leader of Red Bull Max Verstappen with eight races remaining, told reporters during the Dutch Grand Prix that he was focused on next year’s car and that every lap counted.
“I generally like the job we do, whether we’re fighting for the top spot or elsewhere,” said Hamilton, who fought Verstappen for the title until the controversial final round in 2021.
“I always like meeting up with engineers and mechanics.
“And I still love the challenge of fighting this car every day…the amount of engineering we have to do to dial it in is tricky and I would say it probably increases your sensitivity to improving the engineering side.
“I never want to wish time would pass again…there will be a lot of information to acquire in the second half of the season.”
The 37-year-old, who is on his longest winless streak, said he was focused on commentary.
“That’s really where I apply a lot of my time, it’s just communicating with all the heads of different departments really to make sure we don’t leave anything to chance,” he added.
“It could be the brakes, the gear ratios, the suspension, the handling, the aerodynamics…to just help them figure out where they design the car for next year.”
Hamilton said the key elements must already be approved.
“(It’s) about making sure you catch them (the engineers) before they sign off on these things and get things going that maybe we haven’t had time on to focus on the past,” he explained.
“I’m enjoying it. We’ve won the last eight constructors’ world titles and I have full confidence in my team and my engineers that we’ll get there.
“It’s just that with the cost cap and the (limited) time in the wind tunnel, it’s not as simple and easy as before, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get there.”
Defending Red Bull champion Max Verstappen is 93 points clear of his closest challenger, team-mate Sergio Perez, after 14 of 22 races.
