Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff clash over Mercedes' F1 plans for 2024

21 September 2023 , 12:46

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Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff have been discussing Mercedes' 2024 car (Image: HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

Lewis Hamilton appeared to contradict what team boss Toto Wolff said about Mercedes' plans for their 2024 car.

The Silver Arrows will be desperate to create a machine capable of regularly challenging for race wins. After all, their last two efforts have fallen short in that regard with just one victory over the last two seasons.

Team principal Wolff has been very blunt in his assessment of the W14 car at times this season. And he was similarly to-the-point when describing his team's plan for its 2024 effort.

"We will throw this one in the bin when it's really fast and then embark on a new journey," said the Austrian. "I think we have encouraging signs from the tunnel of a balanced car that's going to be more together, and we have answers to our questions. So, we are really looking at the results with an encouraging perspective."

But, when presented with those comments while speaking to reporters at Suzuka on Thursday, Hamilton said there is value that can be taken from the current car and used to help improve the next one. "We won't ever bin the car, of course," he said.

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"These cars are still masterpieces, really, even if they're not. It's not the fastest car in the world, but 2,000 people have worked so hard to build these things and they'll continue to be a part of our history and learning curve.

“There will be bits of it that we try to change, trying to hold onto some of the positives, because there's always positives. So we're trying to hold on to the positives and add some new."

Regarding their 2024 challenger, Hamilton would not be drawn into speculating about how it will affect his team's chances of success. He said: "With the new direction we have, it's far too early to say and to be optimistic about next year's car, because we are just in the process of going into that.

"But I have full faith in the crew that they're going to take it in the direction that it needs to go. There has been a lot of learning in these past two years so, if we haven't figured it out by next year then, obviously, we'll just keep working away at it. But I'm hoping that they have."

Mercedes last race victory came at the Brazilian Grand Prix last November, when George Russell took the win ahead of his team-mate. Hamilton's personal drought stretches back to the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Daniel Moxon