Hamilton hungry for more in new car

Formula One champions Mercedes ran their new car for the first time at Silverstone on Wednesday with title-holder Lewis Hamilton saying he felt 2019 could turn out even better than last season.

With some teams racing against time to get their new cars ready for the start of preseason testing in Spain on Monday, Mercedes made sure they were on track in every respect.

Hamilton’s Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas performed the initial shakedown laps as part of a 100km filming day, with five-times world champion Hamilton in the car later in the day.

“I completely switched off from racing for a while, trying to focus and re-centre myself and training hard for the new season. 2018 was a great year, but I feel like 2019 can be even better,” Hamilton said. “I want to achieve more, I want to continue to keep pushing. I feel energised and I’m ready to attack.”

The Briton won 11 races in 2018 on his way to becoming only the third driver to win five titles and with a career tally of 73 wins is now only 18 off Michael Schumacher’s record of 91.

Hamilton has also won 51 of the 100 grands prix in the V6 turbo era that started in 2014 and four of the last five championships.

“The buzz really starts at the beginning of the year when you see the car coming together. And then you get to the shakedown and you get into the car it just never gets old,” he said.

Mercedes have also won the last five constructors’ championships, but team boss Toto Wolff warned that rule changes could shake things up.

“We’re taking nothing for granted and there’s absolutely no feeling of entitlement to be at the front,” he said.

“In fact, with the regulation change for the new season, every team can have a shot at the title and we’re seeing all of them as a potential threat.”