F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Loses Hope This Season - "We Have To Make Sure We Change For Next Year"

Lewis Hamilton voices concerns over Mercedes car's balance and performance, hinting at the need for significant changes in the next season.

In the aftermath of the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying, Lewis Hamilton expressed his dissatisfaction with the Mercedes car's balance. The seven-time world champion's comments echo his earlier sentiments about the W14 being the "hardest car" he's ever driven.

Key Takeaways:

• Lewis Hamilton's struggles with the Mercedes car's balance were evident as he finished in P7 during the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying. He pinpointed the car's concept, particularly the rear end, as the primary issue.
• The Briton acknowledged McLaren's success this season, attributing it to their decision to adopt the Red Bull concept. This move has placed McLaren ahead of Mercedes on certain tracks.
• Earlier this month, Hamilton had voiced challenges with the W14 after the Marina Bay qualifying session, describing it as the most challenging car he's driven. This season has seen a tight qualifying battle between Hamilton and his teammate, George Russell.

Lewis Hamilton's recent performance at Suzuka further highlighted the challenges he's faced this season. After finishing in P7 in qualifying, Hamilton told Sky Sports, 

"Yesterday was a bad day. Each weekend we have at least one bad day out of the three. The balance didn’t feel great yesterday."

He further elaborated on the car's issues, stating: 

"The seven-tenths deficit in sector one, is all the rear end. Our car has loads of load at the front, and not as much as we need at the rear. That’s clearly concept. 100% clear. We have to make sure we change that for next year."

Hamilton's comments about the W14's challenges aren't isolated. Earlier in September, after a tough qualifying session at Marina Bay, he described the W14 as "the hardest car" he's yet to drive. Despite his teammate George Russell's recent success, Hamilton has found it challenging to get the car into its optimal performance zone.

However, amidst the challenges, Hamilton remains hopeful for the future, looking forward to potential changes and improvements for the next season. As the 2023 season progresses, fans and analysts will be keenly watching how Mercedes responds to these challenges and what changes they implement for the upcoming year.