Bad Performance Doesn't Change Anything About Hamilton 'Being Greatest Driver In the World'
F1Tuesday, 28 November 2023 at 20:00
Updated at Tuesday, 28 November 2023 at 21:52
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff backed Lewis Hamilton after an unsuccessful finish to the 2023 season.
Lewis Hamilton has been the first and most successful driver in the 2023 World Drivers' Championship if we exclude the dominant Red Bull with its drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
His six podiums and 234 points greatly contributed to his team's achievement of second place in the Constructors' Championship.
However, the seven-time World Champion confessed he did not feel great after the last race of the 2023 season as he ended on a streak of "two really bad races."
The Mercedes driver could not qualify in the top 10 during the Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and had unfortunate collisions in both races, contributing to his finishes in P9 and P7. His team principal told the media following the last race:
"From Lewis's perspective, he had a bad weekend. That doesn't do anything about him being the greatest driver in the world, and if we are able to give him a car, then he will be fighting for a World Championship. I have no doubt."
Hamilton himself described the 2023 Mercedes as not even a race-winning car. Toto Wolff seemed to agree saying it was not possible to lead with their car this season.
"It is clear that when you have a Formula 1 car like we have now, you will never lead with it and have good and bad weekends."
The seven-time World Champion is known for being able to squeeze more than 100% out of his car when a race victory is in sight. On the other hand, when the race victory isn't so close, he tends to have a tougher time with his car. Wolff added:
"But at the end, every time when we've seen that Lewis has somebody as a target in front of him, and it was about winning the race, then the real Lewis comes alive. We just need to give him a car, that is the first thing."
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