Lewis Hamilton makes surprising claim as he makes ‘epic’ F1 demand

Lewis Hamilton hasn't won a race since the 2021 season, amid Mercedes' slump.

Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton has revealed the direction he wants to see Formula 1 take going forwards, with the Briton wanting to see closer racing consistently.

Whilst Red Bull have been imperious in 2023, the fight behind the Austrians for second has been breathtaking.

Mercedes, Aston Martin, Ferrari and now McLaren have all claimed second on the podium in the last four races, highlighting the close battle behind Red Bull.

The midfield has also been incredibly close this season, with Williams’ Alex Albon having finished eighth last weekend at the British Grand Prix.

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To put it lightly, the field is close everywhere apart from at the very front, where Red Bull sit 208 points ahead of Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship.

Their advantage is deserving though, with the Milton Keynes-based team having simply done the best job in the paddock.

Since the start of the new aerodynamic regulations last season, Red Bull have won 27 out of 32 races.

As it stands, they’ve won every race in 2023, with it being a real possibility that they could go the entire season unbeaten.

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Hamilton wants this to not be possible and has called for change, most notably on how early teams can develop their car for the following season.

The Mercedes driver wants the FIA to introduce a date when teams can start working in their machinery for the following campaign, so that no side gains an advantage from starting earlier.

Hamilton is keen “tighter races” with lots of overtaking amongst the leaders, something which won’t happen whilst Red Bull remain so superior.

“As a sport, we have to work, we have to have a conversation about how we can set it up to be better for the future,” Hamilton told the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast.

“So we have tighter races where the pack is closer, and we have close battles between Red Bull and Ferrari and Mercedes, Aston Martin that would be epic.

“That’s my dream because that’s when I grew up racing karts, it was wheel-to-wheel close battling.”

Whilst Hamilton is dreaming of close racing, he isn’t dreaming of another “dominant period”.

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Hamilton does want to achieve an unprecedented eighth Drivers’ Championship but not through being untouched, with him instead hoping to win another crown “in battle” with his opponents.

“I don’t dream of having a dominant period ever again, in my for myself, like winning multiple championships in a row,” he added.

“But the hope is that you would be in battle at least.”