F1: Hamilton throws in the towel on the 2023 season

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Despite being the fourth-highest podium finisher and having scored points in every race this season, Lewis Hamilton has thrown in the towel on the 2023 season.

The Briton wants a winning car and this season, for the moment, he seems to be far from being able to fight Max Verstappen for the World Championship. Therefore, the Mercedes driver is already focusing on next season.

“I really don’t care what position I finish in this year. I’m just focused on just trying to give the best development information for the team, working with the guys to make sure we steer this car in the right way and when we start the first race or the first test next year we hit the ground running,” he told Channel 4.

“We don’t have bouncing, we have the rear downforce we need and the car’s efficient, and we can keep up with everybody, that’s my dream, so I’m looking further down the road.”

“Last year was very, very, very hard,” he stated. “I can’t even put words how difficult it was for the team. The car was just… I can’t say anymore and obviously the work we’ve done in terms of towards the end of the year.

“Obviously, we had a good race [in Sao Paulo] but then to start this year, again, kind of on the back foot.

“It’s definitely been a much more positive year for us, I think we’ve made bigger strides. We’ve had some good results on the podium, it’s more it’s really hard to predict where we’re going with the steps that we’re starting to take.”