Hamilton warns Mercedes ‘not on right path yet’

Henry Valantine
Lewis Hamilton is interviewed in sunglasses. Monaco May 2022.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton speaks to the media. Monaco May 2022.

Lewis Hamilton has said Mercedes have come a “long, long way” from their starting point this season, but there’s still work to be done to get on the right path.

Hamilton and Mercedes showed much-improved pace at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, with the seven-time World Champion having come from P19 after his first-lap collision with Kevin Magnussen, all the way through to finishing fifth.

Team-mate George Russell finished on the podium behind both Red Bull drivers, in a weekend that saw the reigning Constructors’ champions reel in some of their deficit to the front-runners.

Hamilton said that the only way of showing true progress would be being back on the top step of the podium at some point this year.

He feels that could be possible and lauded the work his Mercedes colleagues have done back at their factory to improve the W13, but there is still a way to go before getting back to the front.

“It’s not turning around yet, but we’re, we’re almost done,” Hamilton said.

“We’re not on the right path yet. But we’re nearly on the right path. We’re working towards it.

“If we were on the right path, we would be winning races, but we’ve come a long, long way.

“There’s been amazing work done in the background and we understand the car a lot more and we understand more of the direction that we need to go so yes, we are on a better track, because we were on the wrong track before.

“I’m just excited for the work that everyone’s doing in the background. And I’m excited to hopefully be back in the fight soon.”

Away from the track, the ongoing debate surrounding the enforcement of the ban on drivers wearing jewellery has continued to rumble on in the background.

 

The FIA have further delayed their strict policing of the rule until June 30, so Hamilton and others will be able to carry without having to worry about being denied the opportunity to race over the issue.

Hamilton made something of a statement by wearing multiple watches, necklaces and rings to a pre-race press conference after the ban was announced, but when presented with the new information, he was nonplussed.

“I have literally given it zero thought, so I’ve just arrived just as me and I will continue to arrive as me,” Hamilton stated.