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Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton has said the W13 has become a “normal racing car” and believes a first win of the season could be close.

With just nine races remaining in the 2022 season, Mercedes are yet to climb onto the top step of the podium – an unusual situation for the team who have won the last eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships.

After starting the year with a troublesome car as they introduced a radical ‘zero-sidepod’ concept for the new regulations, Mercedes have slowly and methodically unlocked more performance from the machine.

Heading into the summer break, Mercedes wrapped up a convincing second and third place with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell respectively in Hungary, following on from Russell taking pole position on Saturday.

Mercedes are rumoured to have brought a significant update to this weekend’s action at Spa-Francorchamps and, together with the introduction of the new Technical Directive 039, the Brackley-based team could become a potent threat for victories in the remaining races of the year.

Certainly, Hamilton believes wins are back on the cards as he spoke to media on Thursday in Belgium, as he was asked about whether the W13 is now capable of victories.

“I do. Definitely [believe that],” he said.

Hamilton has won a race in every single year he’s raced in F1, but time