Downbeat Lewis Hamilton already looking forward to 'next year's car' after giving up on current Mercedes
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Updated 27/08/2022 at 20:39 GMT
Lewis Hamilton and teammate George Russell start the Belgian Grand Prix in fourth and fifth place respectively, but they are flattered by promotions as a result of grid penalties for seven other drivers. Speaking after qualifying, Hamilton said he was already looking to next season's car with the current Mercedes struggling.
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Lewis Hamilton is giving up on this season’s Mercedes and already looking towards the next campaign.
Hamilton will start in fourth place on the grid at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday after the starting line-up is revised following penalties for seven cars taking new parts.
Fourth flatters the Mercedes which is almost two seconds off the pace of the quickest driver, current world champion Max Verstappen.
The Red Bull driver is just one of many cars that will hope to battle through the pack with superior pace, especially with the Spa circuit expected to encourage overtaking.
Speaking to Sky Sports after qualifying, Hamilton praised his team but could not hide his disappointment.
"Everyone is working for improvements," he said.
"We came here very optimistic we could be close, but to be 1.8 seconds behind is a real kick in the teeth.”
Hamilton continued, saying he was already looking forward to a fresh start next year.
He said: "It's a car we continue to struggle with and definitely won't miss it at the end of the year. For me, it's just focusing on how we build and design next year's car.
"The teams ahead of us are in another league and our car looked so much different today. We've got a lot of work to do, and we'll do the best we can with what we have for the rest of the season."
Russell, who will start fifth, was similarly downbeat.
"Max (Verstappen) is probably going to slice through and win the race pretty comfortably," he said.
"I think he and Red Bull are just miles ahead of everyone."
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