Ever since he became the world champion in 2021, Max Verstappen has become the talk of the town, overshadowing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at every turn. With the Dutchman enjoying unprecedented success season after season, the Briton has fallen well behind in the pecking order, failing to win a single race in the last two seasons.

Keeping the same in mind when reviewing the 2023 season, Dutch racer Tom Coronel reckons Hamilton gets hurt by everything Verstappen does. Quoted in a report by Formule1, Coronel spoke about the visible tension between the two drivers while also pointing out how Verstappen’s actions trouble Hamilton.

Despite driving cars that were nowhere near the level of the Red Bull cars in the last two seasons, Hamilton secured respectable results, even finishing P3 in 2023. As such, while it is certain the Briton is losing the battle right now, it doesn’t look like the 38-year-old will go down as easily in the war.

A legendary rivalry forming between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen

Going head-to-head throughout 2021, Verstappen came out on top in the last lap of the last race of the season to snatch the drivers’ championship away from the clutches of Hamilton. In the following seasons, Hamilton and Mercedes were nowhere near Verstappen and Red Bull, with the Dutchman recording back-to-back record-breaking years in F1.

While Verstappen won 15 and 19 races in 2022 and 2023, respectively, Hamilton has yet to register a race win since the 2021 season, owing mostly to a Mercedes car incapable of winning a Grand Prix. As such, Coronel claimed Hamilton wants nothing more than to take back the throne Verstappen took from him. “He’s definitely going to try to grab Max by the balls again. He won’t succeed, but he will try. He is the only one who dares to do that.”

However, it won’t be an easy feat since Red Bull is already miles ahead in the development race under the current regulations. Having started work on the 2024 car in August, the Austrian outfit already has a massive advantage over their Brackley rivals.

Furthermore, the Silver Arrows have now begun working on an entirely new concept for the W15. On paper, this suggests the Milton Keynes-based team will go into the next season with a huge advantage over Mercedes. As such, the most realistic window for the Brackley-based team to be on equal terms with Red Bull will open in 2026, when the new regulations kick in.

This past Sunday was all about the Denver Broncos securing a commanding 24-7 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Russell Wilson, the quarterback, did his bit with two touchdowns, though a lone interception marked the day. Yet, the true show-stealers were the Broncos’ defense, consistently shutting down the Chargers on fourth down.

In the midst of the thrilled spectators was none other than Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One champion and a proud minority stakeholder in the Broncos. Hamilton took his excitement to Instagram, sharing a snapshot of himself sporting a Broncos jacket at SoFi Stadium:

Sharing snippets from his post-season escapade to the United States, Hamilton got the chance to catch his NFL team, the Denver Broncos, of which he became part-owner in 2022. Decked out in a classic Broncos jacket, the British racing icon witnessed a resounding 24-7 victory for the Colorado squad, a win crucial for their playoff aspirations.

Hamilton, known for his prowess on the racetrack, has a diverse portfolio of interests beyond Formula One. Notably, he holds an ownership stake in the Denver Broncos, alongside the Walton-Penner group, including Walmart heir Rob Walton and his family. Speaking about this venture on the Jimmy Kimmel show, Hamilton conveyed his honor and excitement, saying, “Honestly, it’s such an honor and such an amazing opportunity.”

Hamilton posted his experience on Instagram

The Instagram series chronicling Hamilton’s Broncos experience comprised a photo of him engrossed in the game, a clip capturing a pivotal fourth-down stop by the Chargers, and a video of Hamilton strolling around SoFi Stadium.

Beyond his racing feats, Hamilton is a fervent NFL enthusiast, having attended numerous Super Bowls and even witnessing the first game played in the UK. Although racing commitments kept him from the Super Bowl during his recent U.S. trip, the opportunity to join the Broncos ownership group, presented by fellow investor Melody Hobson, was embraced wholeheartedly. Hamilton underscored his commitment to diversity, noting the lack of black ownership in the NFL and expressing pride in being part of the effort to address this imbalance.

Hamilton’s involvement with the Broncos is more than just financial; it’s a commitment to advancing diversity and representation within the NFL. This resonates with his broader advocacy for inclusivity and equality in various spheres of society.

Lewis Hamilton admits there have been times he has doubted himself during the 2023 Formula 1 season.

“Because you’re missing that, you know… when the magic happens, when everything comes together, the car and you, and that spark, it’s extraordinary. And that’s what you’re in the search for.”

It seems quite the admission from anyone engaged in a sport in which confidence in your ability to take yourself and a high-tech piece of machinery to the limit at speeds that reach over 200mph is so fundamental. Let alone the most successful driver in history. But Hamilton dismisses the idea it is anything extraordinary.

“I’m only human,” says the 38-year-old. “If anyone in the world tells you they don’t have those things, they’re in denial. We’re all human beings.”

‘I asked for changes, and they weren’t done’

Hamilton is talking in an extensive interview to mark the end of the season, and he’s in an expansive, revealing mood.

It has been a long, tough season for a driver and team previously so accustomed to success, and his second in a row without a single victory. He says he knew that would be the case from the first moment he drove this year’s car.

The Mercedes engineers decided for this season to stick with their unique car-design philosophy – against both Hamilton’s wishes and the wider trend along the pit lane. And Hamilton knew as soon as he drove the car at Silverstone in February that they had made a mistake.

“I remember it feeling exactly the same,” he says as he compares it to last year. “And that definitely was not a great feeling. I really had high hopes.”

He even had concerns before that, it turns out.

“In February, when we do a download of where the car is going, I was a little more apprehensive, because the previous year it was like: ‘The car is amazing, it’s unique, no-one’s going to have anything like it.’ And then we get to the first test…

“So, I was a little bit more cautious when I was listening, and I was like: ‘We will see.’ And then the car had all these problems. I just knew it was going to be a long year.”

At the first race in Bahrain, the extent of Mercedes’ issues soon became obvious, and as early as Friday practice – before even a competitive session had taken place – Hamilton said the team were “on the wrong track”.

Looking back, he says: “I’m sure there were frustrations, because I had asked for certain changes, and they weren’t done.”

His reaction, he says, was to have “big, big talks” with the team. “No-one knew exactly what the problem was,” he adds. “No-one knew how to fix it.

“Having the experience of the previous year, I just applied myself, in terms of digging down, sitting with the guys. We were having much better meetings.

“I was able to stay a lot more positive during the year and be like: ‘It’s going to be a long season, but let’s not give up. Let’s keep pushing towards getting the maximum out of the car, whatever that may be.’

“I think for this year they thought: ‘The fundamentals are good and we just have to go here.’ And it was not the case. That’s why I was frustrated in February, because they hadn’t made the changes I’d asked for.

“But we didn’t have a North Star necessarily at the beginning of the year, knowing exactly where we need to work towards. It’s been kind of a zig-zag line trying to frickin’ get to where we need to be.

“Every now and again, something positive happens. You’re like: ‘OK, that’s it.’ And then it shifts, so the goalpost is always moving, which is typical.”

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 Formula 1 season.

The campaign, spanning an impressive 22 rounds across the globe, witnessed Max Verstappen’s unprecedented dominance in the history of the sport.

The 26-year-old added a cherry to the top of the cake of what was an impeccable season with yet another remarkable win under the lights of the Yas Marina circuit.

The Red Bull driver etched his name in the annals of the sport by securing his third consecutive F1 Championship, breaking numerous records along the way.

Nonetheless, amid Verstappen’s spotlight-stealing performance, there remained a significant space for Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton to make his mark in the sport.

The seven-time world champion faced another challenging Formula 1 campaign, extending his winless streak to a second year.

Nevertheless, Hamilton secured six podium finishes amidst the struggles of the Brackley-based team throughout the season.

As the 38-year-old shifts his focus towards a successful 2024 F1 season, Sports Brief explores four remarkable records the British driver broke during the captivating 2023 season.

Most Pole Positions in a Single Grand Prix

Hamilton claimed a record ninth pole position at the Hungarian GP, surpassing the shared record of eight held by Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna, as reported by Sky Sports F1.

Schumacher achieved eight poles in Japan during his career, while Senna’s eighth qualifying success came at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994, a day before his tragic accident at Imola.

Total Fastest Laps

Despite Mercedes facing challenges, the former McLaren driver secured four fastest laps during the tumultuous season, bringing his total to 65. He now stands only 12 fastest laps behind the sport’s all-time leader, Schumacher, who holds 77, according to reports from grandprix247.com.

In honor of Black History Month in the UK, this is Part Three in a three-part series that highlights the life and career so far of F1’s first-ever Black driver, Sir Lewis Hamilton.

In part one of this series, we looked at Sir Lewis Hamilton’s journey into F1. It was a detailed look into his junior career, and how that led up to his signing to drive for McLaren in F1 for the 2007 season. Part two highlighted the highs and the lows, as well as the accolades that Hamilton has claimed so far in his long and highly decorated career.

In part three, we will look at how racial discrimination has molded his mentality into that of a champion. As well as how it has pushed him to be an advocate for diversity and inclusivity.

For a Black person to be signed by a Formula One team, let alone a team as prestigious as McLaren was one step forward for the Black community.

Looking back, it is no surprise that Hamilton faced the discrimination he did. His first years were haunted by anti-Black Spanish supporters wearing black face paint and black wigs. There was also the creation of a website dedicated to “burst Hamilton’s tires” to prevent him from becoming champion at the season finale race in Brazil 2008.

One would like to believe that all that is of the past. Unfortunately, there have been recent disappointments. Despite F1 introducing the “We Race As One” initiative, there were still instances of employees of F1 teams reporting the racism they faced. Hamilton has also recently been a victim to F1 veterans and employees as well as FIA stewards displaying racial undertones, a nod to the racial discrimination that has been a constant in the industry.

In spite of all of this though, Lewis Hamilton has constantly proven himself. 7 world titles and 103 race wins later, he is still going as strong as ever.

In his own words

Earlier this year, Lewis Hamilton was a guest on the On Purpose Podcast hosted by Jay Shetty. Over the years, Hamilton has not been shy to admit what he’s faced both outside and within the sport. In this podcast, he had the space and time to be open and honest about his struggles.

On the podcast, the 7-time champion opened up about experiencing racism and bullying at school. He also admitted that at 16 he found out that he was dyslexic.

Lewis was not short of words of gratitude for his mentors – a strong father figure who taught him to stay focused on his goals and walk away as a winner and a mother who taught him compassion and empathy. He also mentioned that his younger brother is a great inspiration, despite being born with cerebral palsy.

Racing was an outlet for him – a way to channel his emotions. Despite the pain he went through, Lewis said that he was grateful for the journey he went through. Saying it shaped him into the person he is today. He found his passion in racing, and it gave him a sense of strength and power to overcome his difficulties.

Courage

His experiences allowed room for personal growth and a stronger mentality to drive him all the way to 7 world titles. It also allowed the Brit to become selfless, giving him a determination to be a “positive light to the younger generation.

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, Lewis Hamilton came to a realization. He learned that he needed to have difficult conversations with his colleagues and knew it would take courage.

Taking the knee and having conversations with the other drivers on the gird was the start of it.

The Hamilton Commission

Naturally, when such things come to light, more questions arise. Questions that would highlight “the specific barriers to the recruitment and progression of Black people within UK motorsport.”

With those questions, Hamilton learned that only 3% of the 2000 people on the Mercedes team were from diverse backgrounds. The Hamilton Commission, after ten months of research, released a report. This report highlighted the practices and systemic factors within and outside the motorsport industry that have contributed to the lack of diversity. It also outlined concrete steps that could be taken to address the problem.

This included the introduction of a diversity charter for all teams in F1 to be a part of.

Mission 44

Lewis Hamilton has stated that he understands the importance of using our respective platforms to make a difference. He has personally chosen to focus on education as a way to help those who are less fortunate. His aim is to grant them opportunities to live the lives they aspire to. Cue Mission 44.

Mission 44 is a charitable foundation launched by Lewis Hamilton to build a more inclusive education system, support progression into STEM and empower young people. The foundation has led work to address key systemic barriers in the UK education system identified by The Hamilton Commission.

Hamilton’s hopes are to inspire young people. No matter gender sexuality, or ethnicity, showing them that they could be racing drivers, engineers, mechanics, or strategists. The goal is to open doors for them, presenting them with opportunities that they might have previously lacked.

Lewis Hamilton will turn 39 in January – but the seven-time world champion’s contract with Toto Wolff’s Mercedes doesn’t expire until the end of the 2025 campaign

The battle for P2 in the championship is still not over between Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez as the Mexican leads the Briton by 32 points. However, since just two races remain in the 2023 calendar, Hamilton revealed that he has given up the pursuit of P2.

Hamilton spoke about his fight for P2 at the press conference ahead of the Las Vegas GP and admitted that the Red Bull driver is too far ahead of him to catch up. He said, “He’s too far away now. 30 points in two races. He’d have to have two disasters and I’d have to be 2nd, basically.”

The Mercedes driver continued, “Honestly it really doesn’t make any difference if I’m 2nd or 3rd. I think we’ve still had an amazing year, given the car that we’ve had.” However, Hamilton surely knows that things could have been entirely different if not for the struggles he faced in three of the last four races.

The Briton’s charge to P2 faced a major setback when he crashed out on the first lap of the Qatar GP after tangling with his own teammate. Moreover, things went from bad to worse for him when he got disqualified from the United States GP for technical issues even after finishing P2 on track.

While Hamilton did manage to gain back some lost ground by finishing P2 in Mexico, his horrendous outing in Brazil once again shifted the battle for P2 in favor of Perez. Since the Silver Arrows have been so inconsistent this season, Hamilton cannot wait for the new campaign.

Lewis Hamilton cannot wait to part ways with the W14

The 2023 season has been extremely frustrating for Mercedes ever since the start. They started off the campaign with the innovative zero-side pod design which turned out to be a failure. Only once they changed their design philosophy midway through the season did they have some relief.

However, things once again went haywire for the Silver Arrows in the last race in Brazil, proving that there’s quite a bit of improvement to be found on the W14 for it to be a consistent performer. Lewis Hamilton has also openly expressed his desire to part ways with the W14 as soon as possible.

Toto Wolff has already announced that the team will shift to a completely new car design come 2024. Whether the change in design will bring about the much-needed change in fortune for the team remains to be seen.

Lewis Hamilton has made it clear he wants F1 chiefs to ‘look after people’ as Sunday’s Las Vegas Grand Prix moves closer.

The Briton will go into the race in America hoping for a first victory since 2021.

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have offered insights into the 2024 Mercedes car developments, expressing shared optimism that the challenges faced this season will be effectively addressed in the upcoming season – with the former admitting that the season has been ‘killer’.

The Mercedes team had an unfortunate Brazilian Grand Prix, with Hamilton finishing in eighth place and Russell unable to complete the race due to overheating issues.

In what Toto Wolff described as a ‘miserable’, the team has decided to shift focus from Brazil towards the future, making 2024 their top priority.