Hamilton wrapped up his 2023 season with a visit to both the racing team in Brackley and the HPP engine division in Brixworth for a final debrief before embarking on his winter break. Despite a challenging season that saw no victories, the mood within the camp remains “positive,” especially as the team secured second place in the constructors’ championship.
Reflecting on his busy schedule, Hamilton expressed, “I’ve been very busy. It’s been a long, long year, but just tying up all the loose ends, working with the team. I was at the team yesterday just thanking everyone for the amazing work they’ve done throughout the year. It’s a special time of the year, you’re winding down and you’re seeing where we’re going next.”
When questioned about the atmosphere he encountered at the factory, Hamilton noted, “The mood is very positive. I think all the members in the team are incredibly grateful to have got second in the constructors’ given the challenges that we faced this season. And so it’s always quite emotional.”.
Hamilton utilized his visit to assess the progress on next year’s W15, acknowledging the challenge of providing an accurate evaluation as he lacks an engineering or design background. Expressing his excitement for this phase of the season, he shared, “I’m not an engineer or a designer. So it’s not easy. It’s always the exciting time of the year because I have seen the car in the wind tunnel, I always go by the wind tunnel when I go to the factory, to see it evolving in whichever direction it ends up going.”
Continuing, Hamilton mentioned his recent check-in, stating, “Literally when I was leaving yesterday again I popped in just to see where we were, and when I come back, it will be again a different animal.” Despite the inherent complexity of assessing the car’s development, Hamilton expressed confidence in the team’s capabilities, saying, “I have full faith in everyone that’s working on it. And I’m hopeful that we will be in a much more competitive position next year.” As the team gears up for the challenges of the upcoming season, Hamilton’s optimism underscores the anticipation surrounding the evolution of the W15.