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via Imago

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Lewis Hamilton is gearing up for a strong season in 2024. For a man who has won more than 100 races in Formula 1, and won a race every season for 15 years since his debut. Going 2 consecutive seasons without a win might have been hurtful. And the worst part was that it was through no fault of his own. It was Mercedes that dropped the ball with the new regulations in 2022. However, the chatter inside the Mercedes garage has been positive since the end of the season and Lewis Hamilton is all fired up as he wants to build some momentum even before the season starts.

After 2022, many thought that we had seen Max Verstappen at his best. But boy, were we wrong. The Dutchman broke so many records in 2023 that it’s hard to even remember. Long story short, Red Bull and Verstappen are the pair to beat right now in Formula 1. Whoever dares challenge the Dutchman must be prepared to put his hands in the jaws of a lion.

Lewis Hamilton is ready to take on Max Verstappen if Mercedes is up to the challenge

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The dream of standing on the top step of the podium and witnessing the team’s joy is what fuels Lewis Hamilton to keep pushing himself. After two lackluster seasons, Mercedes finally acknowledged the need for a fresh approach to the design of the W15 if they were to challenge Red Bull, and Lewis Hamilton recently said himself that the team has found its north star that was missing for the last 2 years. The return of James Allison as the Technical Director was also very crucial for the Brackley-based team.

Now, with everything in place and having entered 2024, Lewis Hamilton is all about bringing positivity to the team and building momentum heading into the pre-season testing in Bahrain. In his recent Instagram story, the 38-year-old shared a message of starting the year on a strong note.

“2024. This is not the time to slow down. January is a month of energy and I do everything I can to get the momentum going. This is the time to challenge yourself and go after it. Start as you mean to go on, start the year #beyondproof.”

READ MORE: Ferrari, McLaren or Mercedes: Which F1 Team Has the Strongest Driver Lineup for 2024?

And it’s not just about saying the words, the 7-time world champion is leading by example by being present in the factory more than he usually would before the start of the season.

Lewis Hamilton is helping Mercedes prepare their 2024 challenger

In an attempt to bounce back in 2024, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are doubling down on efforts to ensure the W15 machine comes out strong in 2024. The stakes are high, with only two seasons left before the next significant regulations shake up the F1 landscape in 2026. The pressure is on for Mercedes to perfect their concept for 2024 and 2025 if they want to be in a good place starting in 2026 and beyond.

And that’s exactly why Lewis Hamilton is spending more time in the factory to help perfect the W15. In an interview with motorsport-total.com at the end of the 2023 season, Lewis Hamilton explained his approach. I’m in the factory much more often now, have meetings with all the department heads, and try to motivate and encourage them all, said the Brit.

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As you can imagine, everyone is disappointed and demoralized after this season,” he added. “So I talk to them, show them where we need to improve and what direction we need to go in. I just try to help them be positive and to say we can do it. I also looked closely at the other vehicles and asked a lot of questions, just to stimulate ideas.”

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With his contract expiring at the end of 2025, Lewis has got to bank on these 2 seasons to fight for his 8th championship because otherwise, it might just be too late for him. What are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know down below in the comments.