Hamilton says he always checks out the W when visiting the factory, delighted the team never gave up!

In the wake of securing the runners-up position in the 2023 season without a single victory, Hamilton expressed the upbeat mood within the team ahead of the FIA Awards ceremony. “I’ve been busy, it’s been a long season, but mainly focused on unfinished business and working with the team. People need to unwind, we need to plan the next steps. The atmosphere at the factory is also positive, especially after achieving second in the constructors’, every time I go back, it reminds me of the incredible team behind me pushing us forward,” he said.

Hamilton frequently visits to monitor the progress of the W15, although he refrains from predicting its future performance: “It’s always challenging; I’m not a designer or an engineer. But it’s an exciting time of the year when I go to the factory and see the car in the wind tunnel, seeing how it’s developing. When I come back next, it might look completely different. I have full confidence in the team and hope we’ll be more competitive next year.”

Hamilton acknowledged that they knew early on that the W14 would struggle for victories: “There are always ups and downs in a season, and from the moment I tested in Silverstone, we realized it was going to be a tough fight for the championship. Then it was about resetting goals and pushing to catch up. It’s great to see the team never giving up; everyone remains positive, which is motivating for me.”