P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton has shared his thoughts on whether a championship fight is on the cards for him and Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton has expressed his belief in the realistic possibility of championship challenges for Mercedes this season. Hamilton’s recent victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, inherited from team-mate George Russell, marked his second win in three races after a winless streak since December 2021. Despite scoring the most points in the last three rounds, Hamilton finds himself 127 points behind Max Verstappen in the drivers’ championship due to Mercedes’ slow start. In the constructors’ race, Mercedes is 142 points behind Red Bull and exactly 100 points behind McLaren in second place. Hamilton acknowledged the challenges ahead when asked about fighting for titles this year but remains optimistic about their recent performance and the potential for improvement. Mercedes faced difficulties with upgrades in Spa-Francorchamps, leading to a decision to temporarily revert to previous configurations, which significantly improved their performance over the weekend. Hamilton emphasized the transformation of the car’s performance from a challenging Friday to a dominant Sunday, giving him a sense of control and confidence that he has not felt in years.
