Watching the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton take P1 and P2 on lap one of the Australian Grand Prix, Silver Arrows fans were excited that their team might be on the brink of a comeback.
Even with the W14, which Hamilton admits is “not a great car”, the seven-time world champion managed to secure the team’s first podium of the year, taking second place.
The result marked the strongest showing from Mercedes since Russell won the 2022 Brazilian Sprint Race and Grand Prix.
There was some suggestion that the result was a one-off return to form in a car that’s still performing worse than its competitors but Mercedes remains optimistic it shows they can still fight for victories.
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“I don’t like driving not great cars. I don’t like driving a car that’s not the car that we weren’t meant to have, but I love that challenge of ‘okay, what can I do with it?’,” Hamilton told Fox Sports.
“Wins are not possible right, so what is the maximum we can get? Can we be a little cheeky and if fifth is the best we can get, can we get a fourth or a third?
“Just make sure we are consistent and fit and ready so when the car does all of a sudden switch on, and it is the car you dreamed of having, you’re ready.”
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“I am ready to win a World Championship.
“I have prepared the best way I can this year – the best I have ever prepared – and if the car comes correct tomorrow I will be ready to fight for the World Championship, but unfortunately that’s not the case,” he revealed.
Bagging 18 points at the Australian Grand Prix moved Hamilton to fourth in the Drivers’ Standings and kept him close behind his rival Max Verstappen.