Mercedes F1 driver Lewis Hamilton mentioned in an interview after the 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix he is ready to fight Red Bull next season.
The development race in Formula One never stops. Though it upsets multiple F1 fans, it is almost always the team with the fastest car that wins in this sport.
Lewis Hamilton has been lucky enough to have a car that allowed him to compete for the title at least nine times in the past. On the other hand, the seven-time World Champion currently races with a car, which he says can't compete with Red Bull.
Red Bull has built the car best suited for the 2022 regulations, which allowed Max Verstappen to dominate the last two seasons, and other teams like Mercedes have been just trying to catch up ever since.
Toto Wolff says Mercedes is going in the right direction with the newly brought upgrades first time introduced it Circuit of the Americas.
These upgrades are a step towards building a title-contending car for the 2024 season. Lewis Hamilton told the media after the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix:
"I have total faith in the team. I know we can build a car. We haven’t for the past two years, but we can build a great car."
On the other hand, securing the Constructors' Championship already in Japan and the Drivers' Championship in Qatar allows Red Bull to fully focus on the development of next year's car.
"We are progressing but I have heard that Red Bull are progressing as well. So, we have to be really, really strategic and really clinical with moves."
The seven-time World Champion said he had an instance during the Mexican Grand Prix when he thought about trying to catch up to the Verstappen in the first place, but seeing the Dutchman's times on board made him give up.
"They know that already but in order for us to be battling those guys, they’re so quick on the straights, we’re losing two and a half tenths into turn one."
The 38-year-old stays confident and positive in his team's ability to produce a title-contending car. Hamilton seems to be ready to compete for the Championship again.
"But I believe, I’m ready. If we can get the car to match them, we’re going to have some great battles next year."