Lewis Hamilton says he's more fired up and determined to win than ever as he prepares to hit the track for the first time in the new 2023 Mercedes W14 car.
Last year Hamilton suffered his first winless season in F1 since making his debut in Australia in 2007, sparking speculation that he might decide to hang up his helmet and follow Sebastian Vettel into retirement.
But there was no sign of that at Wednesday's car launch at the team's headquarters in Brackley, with seven-time champion Hamilton looking very much up for the fight and with his sights set on regaining his crown from Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
"I'm excited to go racing again," he insisted. "I feel calm, energised, and have my focus sharpened. I'm ready to do what's necessary to win."
Key to his renewed determination is the prospect of what the new W14 will be able to do, compared with last year's chassis which suffered a number of problems and issues including 'porpoising' and high drag.
"To see the evolution of the car and the changes that have been made is fascinating," he said. "We've redesigned, optimised, and innovated so many parts of the car - and that is impressive.
"And I love the new livery!," he added of the new sleek silver-and-black look, harking back to the days of the Silver Arrows while maintaining its modern commitment to championing diversity. "It says, 'We mean business'."
Hamilton also said the much-improved 2023 chassis was testament to the efforts and creativity of all the engineers at Mercedes.
"I have been a part of this team for over a decade and the efforts of everyone never cease to amaze me," he commented. "I find it inspiring how diligently and passionately each person approaches their work."
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His team mate George Russell is a much more recent addition to the team, having made his full-time debut for Mercedes just 12 months ago. But he is just as amazed by the work that's gone into reviving the team's fortunes.
"I have been incredibly impressed with how the team developed the car throughout last season," he said. Russell claimed the team's only win of last season in the penultimate Grand Prix in Brazil, having already taken a maiden pole.
"We have been building momentum throughout 2022 and we're excited to see how that has progressed over the winter," he said. "It's been a long winter and there's plenty of anticipation to see if the W14 lives up to our expectations.
"Aesthetically [the new car] looks great. It's bold, aggressive and stands out," he added. "I'm excited.
"[But] there's a lot of talk at this point in the season. We now need to see how we perform when the car takes to the track."
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Also present at the official launch was Mercedes' new test and reserve driver, Mick Schumacher. His father Michael was not only a seven time world champion, he was one of the first drivers for the Mercedes F1 factory team in 2010.
"I've always felt very close to Mercedes," said the 23-year-old, who drove for Haas last season. "I am very happy to be a part of the Team and I know how important my role will be in aiding the development of the W14.
"I am committed to giving it my all to contribute to our performance in this competitive environment."
After a short demo run on Wednesday, Mercedes are likely to carry out a shakedown test using one of their filming days on Thursday before heading to Bahrain International Circuit for three days of official pre-season testing from February 23-25.
After that it's just a matter of days before the start of the Bahrain GP weekend, the first round of the 2023 Formula 1 world championship set for Sunday, March 5.
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