Mercedes is confident that they are about to retain Lewis Hamilton’s services for 2024 and, potentially, beyond, as team principal Toto Wolff revealed that a contract extension is close to being agreed with the seven-time world champion.
With Mercedes struggling to get back to its winning ways, Hamilton was rumoured to be considering a move away from the Silver Arrows as part of his bid to secure a record-breaking eighth world title.
“It was like a punch in the stomach,” Hamilton said, discussing the W14’s performance in Miami.
“It’s not easy to accept such a gap [to Red Bull].
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“The car is similar to last year here.”
Mercedes finished in P5 and P6 in Miami last year, as the team finished the inaugural Grand Prix in Florida 18 seconds and 21 seconds off the pace of race winner Max Verstappen.
The Silver Arrows are desperately hoping that a major upgrade package, coming at Imola next week, will see the former champions return to the fight for front row positions.
Although, despite the hype and hope, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has been trying to lower expectations ahead of the Italian race weekend.
“There’s been so much talk about these upgrades that they seem to expect that we will suddenly be beating Red Bull by a lap,” Wolff said.
READ: Lewis Hamilton says he suffered ‘kick in the gut’
The upgrades will reportedly see Mercedes deploy a redesigned car, with a new suspension, floor and other aerodynamic elements to help them address their poor pace so far.
Red Bull has dominated the 2023 season, taking victory in every outing so far, including the Sprint around Baku.
With Sergio Perez starting on pole in Miami, Red Bull could be on course to continue their winning ways, cementing their status as favourites for the 2023 Constructors’ title.