LEWIS HAMILTON has broken his silence on the retirement rumours that surrounded him during the off season.
Mercedes congregated at Silverstone today to reveal their new W13 car ahead of the 2022 season.
Hamilton, 37, admitted that he’s ‘excited’ to drive his new motor after the ‘incredible hard work’ of the all team’s engineers.
On talk that he could have called it a day, he revealed: “I never, ever said that I was going to stop. I love doing what I do, and it is such a privilege working with this large group of people.
“You really feel like you’re part of a team and part of a family, working towards that common goal. There’s no feeling quite like it.
“But yeah… it was obviously a difficult time for me, and it was a time where I really needed to take a step back and focus on being present. I had my family all around me, and creating great moments.
“And I eventually got to a point where I decided I was going to be attacking coming into another season, and working with Toto and George [Russell].
“It’s exciting seeing George come in and bringing his energy. I can already feel that throughout the team. I think it’s going to be an exciting season.”
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The new W13 features a return to silver, as well as a number of changes to the chassis and power unit.
On these adaptations, Merc technical director Mike Elliott revealed: “On the chassis side, the changes are huge.
“We haven’t had a change as big as this one in my career. I think there are three aspects to this: first, the way the regulations are constructed is very different, particularly for aerodynamics, and that has a big impact.
“Second, what they are trying to achieve with the aerodynamics means the cars are fundamentally a different shape.
“Third, this is the first time we will have attempted such a big change under a cost cap.”
I think it’s very encouraging to see that action has been taken
Toto Wolff on FIA changes
At the slick launch, team principal Toto Wolff also had his say on the FIA, amid the news that race director Michael Masi was relieved of his duties yesterday.
The Austrian, 50, said: “I think it’s very encouraging to see that action has been taken. There is a much-more robust structure now.
“The FIA has stated that there will be a virtual Race Control Room with state of the art technology.
“And the new guys are going to be in place for the Barcelona test and I think the right steps. It is a new era for the sport.”
Ahead of getting a look at his new car, new-boy Russell opened up on how he’s settling in with the Silver Arrows, admitting: “It’s easier because there are so many faces that I’ve known over the past six or seven years now.
“When we started working together, we’re straight into business.
Seeing Lewis work when I was a junior driver, it feels quite natural to go in there being team-mates with him
George Russell
“Obviously, the relationships are always built over time, but I only knew so many of the people and obviously having worked with Lewis…
“Seeing Lewis work when I was a junior driver, it feels quite natural to go in there being team-mates with him, racing alongside him.
“I think it’s going to be a really exciting season for all of us and for Formula One generally because there’s so much that has changed.
“There’s so much to learn. There’s gonna be so much development over the course of this season.
“We really need to be on top of our game as as drivers to help give the feedback to the team and working as one to to really push the car forward because I think from the first race to the last race of the season, they’ll probably be some drastic changes we see on the cars.”
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
