Mercedes technical director James Allison has quashed suggestions that Lewis Hamilton is no longer motivated to push to the limit, with him insisting that there’s “no doubt” about the 39-year-old’s desire to win.
Hamilton has failed to claim a race win in over two years, with his most recent victory still being the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The seven-time World Champion had been the only driver in the history of the sport to win in every season they’d competed in, although this feat was destroyed in 2022.
2022 was a woeful year for Hamilton who finished behind teammate George Russell; however, the 103-time race winner was more like his usual self last year.
READ: Carlos Sainz’s father makes massive Audi admission that will worry Ferrari
Hamilton claimed third in the 2023 Drivers’ Championship and finished comfortably ahead of Russell.
Whilst this is an improvement for the veteran, he’d likely take a race win over finishing ahead of Russell in the standings.
In his defence, the Silver Arrows haven’t given him a car good enough to win races, as proven by the fact that the German manufacturer have only featured on the top step of the podium once since the current regulations were introduced – Russell won the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s winless streak has made many ponder if he still has what it takes, as far as Allison is aware, he does.
Allison recognises though, that the statistical greatest of all-time needs better equipment than Mercedes has given him the last two seasons to succeed.
READ: Red Bull dealt severe blow as McLaren reveal shocking Lando Norris transfer fee
“I think you’d struggle to find a driver anywhere in the grid that wasn’t motivated,” said Allison, as per The Mirror.
“I think that sort of comes with the territory with them. And, generally speaking, the more successful the drivers have been, the more sort of inescapable that compulsive need to win is.
“In Lewis’s case, it’s just a core part of who he is, so there’s no doubt about his motivation to get back to winning ways. But whether or not he can do that will be much more in the hands of the equipment we’ve given him than in his own hands. He’s always had that ability there.”