“1-2 Unbelievable! This is just the beginning guys!” While George Russell was elated after winning the 2022 Brazilian GP, he had the bigger picture in mind. Despite having numerous struggles in the season, the Silver Arrows somehow managed to pull off a winning performance at Interlagos. And not just a race win, a one-two finish at that! Lewis Hamilton would have not imagined a double podium and top-2 finish when he was bouncing up and down in the W13 earlier in the season. Nonetheless, now that they have tasted a bit of success again, both drivers look to gear up with Mercedes again.

Hamilton reflected on this moment on how it impacted the morale of the team. In a feature with Petronas Motorsports, Lewis said about the 2022 season, “I think it’s been a good lesson, [a] good building block for us all. And then together a one-two at the end in Brazil was I think a huge boost for everybody.”

“I probably couldn’t put into words how much it meant to everybody at the factory and to me to be a part of that.” The Briton was excited about bracing up for the 2023 season after getting this small “taste” of success. Eventually, Mercedes has been an 8-time champion team. So, Lewis and Co. know how to return to the top again despite the setbacks of 2022 and their starvation of victories.

Lewis further added, “You know we’ve seen that we can do it. We’ve seen that we can get back to our winning ways we’ve had a taste of it. And that’s now I think that’s just made everyone’s even more hungry going into the winter.”

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There is still a lot of work to do for Mercedes on the car development front. Yet, Hamilton shall know how his team can ace such tricky periods and find performance gains. Though, the Brackley outfit will also look to make the most of Lewis’s unique ability over a hectic 2023 season.

Is 2023 going to be a redemption year for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?

The trends have sort of shifted in the favor of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes this pre-season. Perhaps this may age badly. But still ahead of the 2023 season, they are touted to be the prime challengers to Max Verstappen and Red Bull this season.

Of course, there is great optimism from Toto Wolff as well about this prospect. Even he would not want his team to suffer again this year being the 3rd best team. Mercedes are capable of covering up that half a second worth of deficit to Red Bull and Ferrari. But, have they got the edge like the previous years to deliver a tough challenge?

The Brackley-based team will rely on Lewis to lead the team again into a championship challenge. While George Russell is there as well, it may be a surprise if he can again beat Hamilton in a title fight. Regardless, Mercedes are developing the W14 as race-winning and title-winning machinery. And if they do, the 7-time champion ain’t letting Verstappen run away with a 3rd world title.

After all the drama at the end of 2021 and last year’s struggles, Hamilton doesn’t want to miss out again. At 38, the twilight of his career is fast approaching. So, he would want to deliver one last hurrah with that 8th elusive championship.

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If the momentum shift from Brazil, 2022 carries on, we never know Mercedes may come blasting out of the gates this year. With the car launches and the pre-season testing happening this month, we shall have an idea of the potential of the Silver Arrows for 2023. How many races do you think can Hamilton and Mercedes win this year?