Hamilton hails new F1 auto

Running beside Lewis Hamilton in 2017 will be Valtteri Bottas, formerly of the Williams team.

To taunt us while we’re still waiting on pins and needles for some kind soul to slide into our [email protected] inbox with the full vehicle in all its glory (please?), Mercedes put out a few vague, dark, semi-artsy close-ups of their new F1 auto.

And the unveiling marked a fresh start for both Hamilton and his Mercedes team.

Hamilton and Rosberg were locked in a bitter feud during their time at Merc.

Hamilton previously voiced his misgivings in November when he said increasing downforce was the “worst idea”, and that “it just shows me that they don’t really know what they’re trying to solve”.

“It feels odd, seeing someone else in the vehicle next to me”. But I have no special plan whatsoever other than to keep doing what I am doing and that is to improve every single day as a driver. You don’t forget, but get used to what you have. “The new designation is actually the automaker’s new product brand for electric mobility “EQ” that was revealed a year ago and denotes for ‘Electric Intelligence”.

“EQ” is Mercedes’ new brand buzzword for its electric cars, and stands for “electric intelligence”, because “intelligence” starts with the letter Q. You’ll see this name popping up soon on all of Mercedes’ plug-in hybrid road cars.

Formula 1 changed hands past year when Liberty Media acquired the racing business for £3.3 billion ($4.4 billion). I feel like I can put up a good fight. “It’s there for the taking again and I’m going to be against another great driver this year”. “I didn’t win the world championship past year and I want to change that”. “The mistakes we made last year we can hopefully apply this year to make sure we get it right”, he explained.

“If I thought I couldn’t compare or if I couldn’t be quicker than Lewis than I would rather stay at home”, said Bottas. It was like a fighter jet – I was like ‘what the hell?’

‘Then I see that vehicle and I’m, like, I think I’m going to stay.

“I am still competitive, still hungry and driving at my best”.

He believes the experiences of last season have helped him strengthen his resolve and provided him with a new “tool” to deal with disappointments.

The Constructor’s Championship was historically won by Ferrari (16 titles) but Mercedes has emerged as the dominant force in the modern era having claimed the last three titles in a row. And how hard to you think Bottas will push Hamilton? It was damp when I drove so I was on the wet tires initially so the feeling wasn’t spectacular because it’s quite gusty, particularly round the back here at Stowe. Whether or not that will reflect on the racing and the spectacle for the fans remains to be seen, but I hope it is. “I want him to be at his best”.