At the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton finished the season in ninth place.
Lewis Hamilton cut a dejected figure after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, doubting Mercedes’ ability to close the gap to Red Bull next year given how far ahead Max Verstappen finished the season finale. Red Bull was already one step ahead after the regulatory change last year, but they took it to the next level in 2023 to blow their competitors away.
Mercedes, Ferrari, Aston Martin, and McLaren were unable to compete with Red Bull’s dominance, as Verstappen went on to win an unprecedented 19 races.
With Hamilton going another season without a race win, Carlos Sainz was the only non-Red Bull driver to stand on top of the podium this year.
His final race was the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where Mercedes was unable to truly challenge Red Bull. The Silver Arrows appeared to have turned a corner after the Mexican Grand Prix, but they suffered disappointing setbacks in Brazil and Las Vegas, with George Russell’s performance in Abu Dhabi serving as the team’s only highlight.
When asked about his 2023 season in general, Hamilton was downbeat after the race. “There’s not much to take away from the year overall,” Hamilton said.
“All that matters is that I survived.” When asked if Mercedes can close the gap on Red Bull for next season, Hamilton was equally dejected.
“At the moment, I don’t really know,” he added. It’s concerning that Red Bull won by 17 seconds despite the fact that they haven’t developed their car since August.
