With One Eye on $11,000,000 Prize, Lewis Hamilton Targets Max Verstappen With Nonchalant Warning

“You’re all stuck with me for a little bit longer.” After months and months of speculation—and what felt like a contract negotiation that would go on throughout the season—Lewis Hamilton has finally signed a new deal with Mercedes. Set to drive for the Brackley outfit until the end of 2025, the Formula 1 paddock is, in fact, stuck with the seven-time champion for at least another two years—in the best possible way. 

As Mercedes is slowly working towards its goal to reclaim the top spot in the championship and give Hamilton the car he needs to win that elusive eighth title, the Brit sent a nonchalant warning Max Verstappen’s way shortly after his mega announcement.

Lewis Hamilton reveals Mercedes’ plans for the rest of 2023

Almost everyone expected Hamilton and Mercedes to announce the new contract last weekend at the Dutch GP. Now that it’s finally out of the way and Mercedes has two drivers who will stay at Brackley until 2025, it can fully shift its focus to its challenger. Despite the disappointments in the last two seasons and an underwhelming first half of 2023, Mercedes has slowly improved with every race weekend, closing the gap to Red Bull and Verstappen in front.

In the drivers’ press conference at the Italian GP, Hamilton explained how the thought of not continuing in F1 never crossed his mind. Rather, having to face situations in the past two years he’s never had to go through before only strengthened his belief in Mercedes. He said, “I’m really proud of what we achieved last year to get through it and then, whilst we started on the wrong foot this year, to have some really great results. We’re second in the constructors championship, and the plan is to keep that and then close the gap to the guy ahead.”

Even though Mercedes has a stronghold on P2 in the championship, it can’t get too comfortable, considering there’s more than $11 million on the line between finishing P2 and P3. While maintaining that second is Hamilton’s main goal, steadily getting closer to Verstappen is even more critical because that’s what will help Mercedes start 2024 on the right foot. Doing that is crucial to Mercedes’ plan to become the “best” again, and Hamilton revealed how the team is hungrier than ever before.

Read More: 4 Word Warning Fired at Max Verstappen & Co. by Lewis Hamilton After Strengthening Terms With Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton isn’t leaving Mercedes until he gets what he wants

They say, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Following Mercedes’ absence at the front of the field after a seven-year domination, Hamilton revealed how that’s only made the Brackley outfit want to taste that feeling again. As per his statement to Mercedes, Hamilton said, “We dream every day of being the best and we have dedicated the past decade together to achieving that goal. Being at the top does not happen overnight or over a short period of time, it takes commitment, hard work, and dedication and it’s been an honor to earn our way into the history books with this incredible team.”

“We have never been hungrier to win. We have learned from every success but also every setback. We continue to chase our dreams, we continue to fight no matter the challenge, and we will win again. I’m grateful to the team who have supported me both on and off the track. Our story isn’t finished, we are determined to achieve more together, and we won’t stop until we do.” 

It’s no secret Lewis Hamilton wants that eighth world championship. The question is: Can Mercedes be the team that helps him get it?

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