Sky F1 reporter Craig Slater stated in his most recent podcast Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is "obviously clearly worried" about Red Bull's car development.
Lewis Hamilton is a driver who does not care about achieving podium or point finishes as much as other drivers. The number 44 driver is in Formula One for nothing else but winning championships.
After winning seven F1 World Championships and losing the record-braking eighth one to Max Verstappen in 2021, Hamilton seems only to be thinking about one thing, and that is getting his eighth World title.
The seven-time World Champion lately mentioned he is "ready" to challenge Red Bull and Max Verstappen if he can get a "car to match them." Craig Slater said on Sky Sports F1 podcast:
"Certainly, in Lewis Hamilton’s head, it seems to me, his mind is full of where next year’s car is and to what extent some of the upgrades, which will have relevance [next year] are being brought towards the end of this season."
Mercedes made decent progress in the last two races after bringing significant upgrades to the United States Grand Prix, but according to Slater, Hamilton is clearly worried about Red Bull for the next year.
"He’s obviously clearly worried about how early Red Bull started developing next year’s car and has a handle on that again."
Slater suggests that many of the upgrades brought by teams to these last few races of the season serve as a testing of the parts for the next year's car.
"So I think in these kinds of end-of-season races, you do get this idea that the teams are beginning to marshal their ideas about next year and who necessarily might be where."
On the other hand, Red Bull has not been bringing too significant upgrades as if the team did not want to reveal their cards to other competitors.
Consequently, other teams are catching up to Red Bull towards the end of this season, but the team from Milton Keynes might be further ahead, just not revealing it.