Lewis Hamilton says his driving ability alone not enough to challenge Red Bull

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton says his driving ability won’t be enough to challenge the Red Bull this season.

Red Bull’s complete dominance of Formula 1 in the past year and a half has seen teams like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Aston Martin in the midfield for most races. The Austrian team’s car has won all 12 races this season with Max Verstappen winning 10.

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Hamilton, who has won over 80 races with Mercedes between 2013 and 2021, says the team needs to build a reliable car if they are to match Red Bull in the coming season.

HAMILTON SAYS MERCEDES NEED TO CATCH UP TO RED BULL

Since the ground effect era was introduced in 2022, the Silver Arrow has struggled to nail their car and set-ups which saw them drop back in 2022 and 2023. Last year, Mercedes finished behind Red Bull and Ferrari in the constructors standings after winning for seven straight years.

“I’m always trying to rely on my driving ability to make up for the deficit, but it’s not been ultimately enough in a lot of places,” Hamilton said after the Belgian Gp where he finished fourth.

“If you look at the race in Silverstone, you may not have seen it, but we were equal in time to Max on a qualifying lap until Turn 13. Then we just lost the performance and speed after that.”

In Hungary, Hamilton got his first pole in nearly two years but failed to capitalise on that as a poor start saw him finish fourth in the race. Despite being the most successful F1 racer of all-time, the British driver has not won a race since Jeddah 2021.

He came close last year in Austin but was passed by Verstappen with a few laps to go.

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This week, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said the team was focused on building a new car following the failure of W14.

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