2022 was a horrific year for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, with the seven-time World Champion having slumped to his lowest ever result in the Drivers’ Championship.
After spending all season trialling different set-ups, Hamilton’s performances last season varied from race to race, given that the W13 worked well at some tracks but poorly at others.
Despite the woes he endured, though, he hails last year as the “greatest” season of his career so far, in regard to the amount of support he received.
There is no doubt that the 38-year-old is one of the most popular drivers on the grid, with the Brit boasting a remarkable following on social media.
READ: ‘I will definitely stay’: When will Lewis Hamilton commit to Mercedes?
When looking back on the support he received in 2022, the 103-time Grand Prix winner hails it as having been “so good” to receive “so much love”.
“I think this has been the greatest year in my career in terms of fan support,” said Hamilton.
“There has been so much love and that’s so appreciated in a time when the world is going through a really tough period.
“To see everyone excited for our sport, weekend in, weekend out, is so good.”
Mercedes’ fans were put through a lot in the most recent season, with the Silver Arrows having had a plethora of issues to solve.
Their gradual comeback to the front, though, gave fans something to get excited about, with Hamilton adding that the team and their fans have been on a “journey together more than ever before” in 2022.
“It’s the most excited I’ve seen the fans and the most passionate, so the support feels like it is magnified,” he added.
READ: Yuki Tsunoda reveals how British food and weather impacted him
“I felt like we’ve been on a journey together more than ever before.”
This journey will likely carry over into the upcoming campaign, where the Brackley-based outfit are hopeful that the W14 will see them back at the front instantly.
Whether Mercedes will return to their former selves in Bahrain is perhaps one of the main talking points looking ahead to the 2023 season, with many drivers and team principals expecting the Germans to be amongst Red Bull and Ferrari once again.