Source: Mercedes-Benz Archive

F1 News

Hamilton wants to test Mercedes' 2019 car before end of the year

Hamilton wants to test Mercedes' 2019 car before end of the year

24-09-2018 09:43
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Nicolás Quarles van Ufford

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton has made it clear to Mercedes that he wants to test the new 2019 parts before the end of the season in order to prevent a slow start like he had this season.

It took the reigning champion some time to find his feet this season, as Sebastian Vettel won the first two races of the season in Australia and Bahrain respectively, before Daniel Ricciardo won the third race of the season in China.

Fast forward to present day, and Hamilton is leading Vettel by 40 points in the championship with just six races to go, and both titles are Mercedes' to lose. It's been quite the turn-around, but in order to prevent this from happening again, the Brit wants to test the new 2019-parts before the end of the season.

"In those meetings [with the team] I pushed them a lot about next year's car," Hamilton told Crash.net.

"I know what I need improving for next year’s car because they are working on the design as they need to sign things off for next year’s test already.

"Also I'm saying, 'Can you bring things forward to Abu Dhabi because I want to feel it during the race weekend rather than next year in February or March.

"When we start testing it is too late, so I am definitely keeping the pressure on these guys.”

Interesting from Hamilton, who proves to be thinking ahead as always. I guess he's a four-time champion for a reason.