Lewis Hamilton has '100% faith' that Mercedes can 'dethrone' Red Bull in F1 after signing new contract

Lewis Hamilton has "100% faith" that Mercedes can "dethrone" Red Bull and end their Formula 1 dominance over the next few years.

Red Bull have firmly established themselves as the top team in the sport, with Max Verstappen well on his way to a third straight championship title.

Verstappen won the Italian Grand Prix last weekend to become the first F1 driver to claim 10 consecutive race victories.

Two second-place finishes are the best Hamilton has managed as Mercedes have been unable to keep pace with Red Bull.

But after signing a new deal to stay at Mercedes until 2025, seven-time champion Hamilton is confident his team can turn things around.

“The goal within those two years is 100% to be fighting and win a world championship,” he told Sky Sports.

“We are second in the constructors' championship right now and we want to dethrone those who are at the top. I have 100% faith that we can do that."

Hamilton, who finished sixth at the Italian Grand Prix, is currently fourth in the championship standings.

His new deal means he is set to race as a 40-year-old, but he is not confirmed for 2026, when F1's new technical regulations are introduced.

Hamilton said he is thinking about another contract, but also opened the door to potentially stepping away from the sport.

"In terms of long-term, I'm thinking about my next contract - what that will look like, how long that will be. I plan to be here for a while," he said.

"But it could change. I could come back next year and be like 'damn it'. Who knows?

“You never know where you are going to be in life but right now I'm very focused on staying positive every day. I know that's not easy for anyone.

"Staying fit and healthy and trying to find that balance of enjoying yourself and your work - balance with family life and all those sort of things. I think I've got a pretty decent balance right now. That's enabling me to really love what I'm doing."

The next race on the F1 calendar is the Singapore Grand Prix on September 17.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was champion in Singapore last year.

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