Hamilton hopes for battle with Verstappen: 'We're only three tenths off'

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hamilton closest to verstappen so far
17 June 2023 at 17:11
Last update 17 June 2023 at 17:35
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  • Toby McLuskie

After a disappointing start to the season, Mercedes seems to have hit the right note with its latest update package. Whether the German formation can repeat Spain's strong result in Canada remains to be seen, but Lewis Hamilton speaks of positive prospects.

Mercedes' updates come at a good time for Hamilton and team-mate George Russell, who are running their home race at Silverstone in early July. "The weather has been amazing in the past week or so. When I left I think it was 29 degrees which was amazing. So let's hope that that extends out to when we get there," Hamilton began during the press conference in Canada.

Hamilton hopes to challenge Verstappen

The seven-time world champion hopes to continue the Barcelona line to ensure a strong result in his home race, the British Grand Prix. "I'm really, really hopeful that the performance we had in the last race," continued Hamilton.

"I mean, we're only like three-tenths off… Each lap, I was around three or four tenths off Max, which was the closest I think we've ever been this year," continued the 38-year-old Briton, who dreams of more than a podium finish at Silverstone. "I'm hoping by then, we will hopefully have taken another step. So I'm really, really hopeful that we can… Maybe that will be a race where we get to actually race them but we'll see."