Mercedes see a 'compulsive need' in Hamilton to beat Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton did not manage to win a Grand Prix during the last two seasons. It is an unprecedented run for the seven-time world champion, who took at least one victory every season he was active in Formula 1 up to and including 2021. According to his Mercedes team, the recent period has not caused the Brit to become resigned or reserved. On the contrary, Hamilton has a "compulsive need" to win again and thus beat Max Verstappen, according to technical director James Allison.

In battles where things are going against him, Hamilton sometimes radiates that he is fine with it all. Then he complains about everything, and the warrior Hamilton of yesteryear is nowhere to be seen. At times when Hamilton did compete for the podium last season, the Briton was seemingly highly motivated. Allison has no doubt at all that Hamilton is still highly motivated to deliver a top performance in Formula 1, the technical director told Motorsport.com.

According to the Briton, no one on the grid is going to find a driver who has no motivation to perform in Formula 1. Allison suspects that the more successful a driver is, the more compulsive their drive to win is. "n Lewis's case, it's just a core part of who he is, so there's no doubt about his motivation to get back to winning ways. But whether or not he can do that, will be much more in the hands of the equipment we've given him than in his own hands. He's always had that ability there," Allison said.

According to the technical director, the drivers have hardly been able to influence the development of the new car in recent times. The development process of a car always happens in the factory, with designers looking for ways to manufacture the fastest car possible. Only once they take it to the track are they expected to be involved in its further development. Allison expects Hamilton - and also teammate George Russell - have mostly used the past few months to get both physically and mentally fit for another F1 season.