Lewis Hamilton is thrilled with a win that ends an 11-race winless streak. Photo Sylvain THOMAS / AFP
Lewis Hamilton knew what it was like to spend time without a Formula 1 win, even though he had gotten used to winning (and titles) in recent seasons. In the past three times he had added ten races without winning. However, at Silverstone that figure was raised to eleven for the first time.. And, while it had never happened before, the seven-time English champion raised his hopes of taking victory this weekend in France, where Mercedes updated their W13.
“I am working for that win“Hamilton said of his chances at his 300th Formula 1 Grand Prix. He added:” I hope so. This is what we are all working for and I think at some point we will be able to compete with these guys (Red Bull and Ferrari), both this weekend and in five races. The journey is the important part. We didn’t start where we wanted to be, but we made progress and started to reach a point of consistency. When we get back to where we deserve to be, I think we’ll appreciate it a lot more. “
While Hamilton and Mercedes faced a poor first half of the season by their standards to win titles – the last eight as constructors and six as drivers, including five from England – the improvements in performance have been evident in the results over the past few weeks. races (four podiums in a row) have revitalized the team.
The Paul Ricard circuit of Le Castellet, fluid, fast and smooth like Silverstone, should work in favor of the German team, so much so that Hamilton has changed his mind about not being able to fight for victory this season believe you have a chance this weekend.
A win would be a milestone for Hamilton, not only ending his longest wait in an F1 season (11), but also because would make it to his 300th race, which will place him in a select group of just six riders who have reached that number of appearances.
In addition, Mercedes has brought to the Paul Ricard a car with improvements, including a redesigned nose that appears to be flatter, which could reduce drag and increase speed in a straight linea team looks for this 2022.
The full package will be revealed ahead of Friday’s free practice and Mercedes may even have more updates up its sleeve. “Although we were faster in Austria, we still weren’t fast enough to challenge the leaders. We have to keep chasing those last tenths and bring new developments to the cars,” Toto Wolff anticipated.
A long streak of consecutive victories but not so unexpected
After the Austrian Grand Prix two weeks ago, the driver with the most F1 victories has gone through his longest stint without winning a Formula 1 Grand Prix. He has already played eleven consecutive races without climbing the top step of the podium, from the Saudi Arabian GP in full definition of the 2021 title, left in the hands of Max Verstappen.
However, it’s not something that unfamiliar, from Hamilton He had ten consecutive races without winning twice – between 2008 and 2009 – at McLaren and in 2013 when he started his experience with Mercedes.. Now, if he doesn’t win in France, he will accumulate 231 days between the Jeddah GP from December 5th until next Sunday, July 24th.
Russell does not think like Hamilton and does not think that anything will change in France, as regards the superiority of Ferrari and Red Bull. Photo REUTERS / Yara Nardi
George Russell doesn’t think the same way: “I think we won’t be faster than them”
Despite the confidence Mercedes and Hamilton have over improvements to Mercedes, the Englishman’s teammate, his compatriot George Russell, downplayed Mercedes’ chances against Red Bull and Ferrari this weekend.
“The honest answer is we really don’t know,” Russell told Sky Sports F1. “We think we will be closer than we probably were in Austria, relatively speaking. That might be reasonable. But I don’t think we will be faster than Ferrari or Red Bull.. I think if we have a great weekend, we could be within two tenths if we do absolutely everything right, but I would be surprised if we get closer. “
The numbers prove him right. Although Mercedes overtook Red Bull in points in Austria, thanks to Hamilton’s third place and Russell’s fourth against Max Verstappen’s second place and Checo Pérez’s departure, he is still 66 points behind Ferrari, which is second. in the constructors’ championship, 56 units from the Austrian team.
Source: Clarin
