Lewis Hamilton backs Mercedes to produce another title-contending car

Lewis Hamilton has said that he is fully backing Mercedes to put together a car good enough for him to challenge for the Formula 1 title again this season.

The Briton was a lap away from the world championship back in December 2021 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, before the infamous final throes played out to cruelly deny him.

Indeed, it was a dramatic ending to the season but he is now fully focused on 2022, and ready for the challenges ahead.

Speaking to the press in Barcelona at Formula 1’s first testing session for the new season, he said:

“Every year is exciting but this one is completely brand new.

“I have seen designs of our car obviously but this is the first time you get to see the other teams out there on track.

“You want to see a close eye and see why others have taken a different route. You have no idea where you stand so it is definitely exciting.

“I do hope that these rules deliver in terms of closer racing.

“It puts everybody on a closer playing field.

Hamilton was then asked about the opportunity for Mercedes to have made mistakes when working to the new rules:

“Why would I ever feel that way? My team doesn’t make mistakes.

“Of course that is a risk (with the new regulations) but I trust the team. Whether it is good or bad we will work through it.”

Hamilton appears in bullish mood, then, and he’ll be eager to get to Bahrain next month for the first Grand Prix to see where he really stacks up this season with his new car.