MERCEDES BOSS Toto Wolff has said that he believes Lewis Hamilton can win the 2024 F1 Drivers Championship… but only if his team get their act together.
Mercedes finished second in this season’s Constructors’ Championship but were some way behind champions Red Bull.
George Russell’s podium finish in Abu Dhabi was enough to secure second, three points in front of Ferrari, but it represents a fall from grace from Mercedes who had won eight constructors’ titles in a row up to 2021.
Red Bull finished on 860 points, with Mercedes finishing on 451 so there is a considerable gap for Wolff’s team to make up.
When asked by Sky Sports as to whether they can bridge that gap next season, Wolff said: “New season starts with a completely new car and that gives opportunities but also risks.
“I think we’ve got to be realistic.
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“We are aiming for the stars but we finished only second against a team that was out-performing everybody else.”
When asked if another constructor, such as Ferrari could usurp them to become Red Bull’s main competitor, Wolff said: “I mean I’ve always said that this is a meritocracy and best driver and best car wins, and therefore we have to just get out act together, and I hope it’s us [that can fight Red Bull].”
Wolff says it is up to the team to give Hamilton a car worthy of beating Verstappen next year, saying: “If we are able to give him the car, then he will be fighting for a world championship.
“I have no doubt. It’s clear that when you have a Formula 1 car like we have now, you are never at ease with it.”
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It has been an unlikely winning drought for Lewis Hamilton, with the Brit not winning a Grand Prix since Saudi Arabia in December 2021.
He finished third in the 2023 Drivers standings on 234 points – a whopping 341 off 2023 champion Max Verstappen.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
