Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton has expressed his readiness to challenge Max Verstappen once his Mercedes car is on par with the task.
This season has proven frustrating for the seven-time world champion, facing a grid where no one has managed to keep up with the pace of the Red Bull team, which has secured victory in all 12 races of 2023.
As Formula One resumes from its summer hiatus, Verstappen aims to clinch a joint-record ninth consecutive victory at his home Grand Prix in Zandvoort.
A prevailing sentiment is that Red Bull could potentially maintain an unbeaten streak throughout the remainder of the season.
Consequently, teams and drivers are redirecting their attention towards the upcoming year, anticipating a more narrow gap to the front-runners.
Despite Hamilton’s ongoing search for his first victory since the end of the 2021 campaign, Hamilton asserts that he is prepared to confront fierce rival Max Verstappen.
Hamilton eagerly awaits the moment when his Mercedes team can provide him with a competitive car to engage in the battle.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he remarked: ‘I’m trying to prepare myself for when the car is ready to challenge and beat Max. I definitely think I’m ready.’
‘I think at the moment the only way we can do that is to capitalise on any potential mistakes which they don’t tend to make but if they do I’ll be there.’
At present, the 38-year-old driver holds the fourth position in the championship, trailing just a point behind Fernando Alonso and sitting 41 points adrift Sergio Perez.
Mercedes finds itself in a favourable position to secure the second spot in the constructors’ standings, boasting a comfortable lead of over 50 points ahead of both Aston Martin and Ferrari.
However, the landscape could potentially shift significantly before the season’s conclusion in Abu Dhabi.
When questioned about his goals for the rest of the year, Hamilton remarked: ‘My goal is to try and figure out how to have the best 10 races I have ever had in the second-half of the season.
‘Of course, we know performance wise that we’re not going to blitz these races but maximising points every weekend, holding onto second in the constructors’ championship and chasing down Perez! That’s my goal.’
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