Mercedes gains ground: Hamilton hints at challenging Verstappen in Brazil
Nov.1 - After finishing second at the chequered flag to Max Verstappen at the last two grands prix, Lewis Hamilton thinks he might "get closer" to the Red Bull this weekend in Brazil.
It was at Interlagos a year ago that George Russell had his breakthrough Formula 1 win - with Hamilton second.
And now, as Mercedes has made very real steps of improvement lately, another similar result might be a real possibility again this weekend.
"I was hoping maybe there'd be an opportunity to get closer to Max," said Hamilton after finishing 14 seconds behind the top Red Bull in Mexico.
"But maybe next week."
Team boss Toto Wolff is also hopeful, but he warns that Verstappen and Red Bull clearly still have the edge.
The Austrian began: "Whether our package is good enough to beat Max... their package, the combination of driver, car and power source ... it's very complete at the moment."
What is possible, however, is that Hamilton will succeed in tracking down the struggling Sergio Perez for second overall in the drivers' standings - with the gap down to just 20 points.
"It's mostly dependent on Checo's weekends really," Hamilton said. "They have the championship-winning car. He's just been unfortunate, I think, in some scenarios.
"But honestly, it's not going to make a big difference to my life, whether I come second or third," the seven time world champion added. "It's a bonus if we get second in the drivers."
According to former F1 driver Timo Glock, Mercedes and Hamilton's resurgence is just more pressure on Mexican Perez at exactly the wrong moment.
"Hamilton has currently found a good way to handle the car," he told Sky Deutschland. "The race pace is great.
"That's why it will now be twice as difficult for Perez in the final races. It's down to his nerves," the German added.
Meanwhile, former technical director Mike Elliott has finally paid the price for Mercedes' failed 'no sidepods' car concept, having already been relegated down the pecking order by the returning James Allison in April this year.
Mercedes confirmed that Elliott "has chosen to depart the team" after 11 years to "begin the next chapter of his career".
"It's clear that he's ready for new adventures beyond Mercedes," said Wolff, "so I know this is the right step for him to take, too."
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Meanwhile, former technical director Mike Elliott has finally paid the price for Mercedes' failed 'no sidepods' car concept, having already been relegated down the pecking order by the returning James Allison in April this year.
Mercedes confirmed that Elliott "has chosen to depart the team" after 11 years to "begin the next chapter of his career".
You can never trust the Germans, which is it sacked, or gave notice?
After that disaster he designed he deserves to be quartered and dragged through the town square. Even the fanbase saw the storm clouds when MB trotted out their completely counter intuitive sidepod design. He got sent packing, IMO.
Rumour has it that ME came by a set of carefully leaked preliminary sketches for the NSP design with AN’s signature on them. ME fell hook line and side pod for them and was too far into copying them to back down when it was quietly pointed out to him that NSP stood for Neweys silly prank. Newey had assumed that no one would actually leave the side pods off so hadn’t bothered to put them on the drawing!
Rumour also has it that ME is going to RB as Dr Marko’s understudy and will take over once he has mastered the Thai language written as well as spoken, AN apparently is going to design a new translating machine to help, it’s called Thailand and you have to live in it. Every cloud.... it’ where every team boss goes to have the truth thoroughly massaged out of them.
.
Ps
You may have wondered why AN, Doc Marten, CHrist and MV all have permanent silly smirks on their faces, Now you know.
No don’t thank me ( well if you like) I consider it my duty to bring you these revelations and shed some light on the murky world of f1, carefully researched of course both here and in Thailand.
Yes, Louise will get closer to Max at the final grands prix of the year ~ in park ferme after those three races that Max will win!
Well may Louise say "it's not going to make a big difference to my life, whether I come second or third,", however, you can take that comment with a grain of salt and be certain she'll be doing everything possible to finish in front of Cheko in each race so she can claim second in the WDC for 2023!
Merc getting closer after "2" Big Updates, yeah right... Max and Rb have been cruising the last few races , catching him hahaha No......
Yea, Good Luck with that hammy....LMAO!
NEWS FLASH: Way out on a limb...I suspect that VER will not win in Brazil. Who will? Not a clue. I suppose that Lewie has as much chance as 4-5 other drivers.