Hamilton says Mercedes ‘buzzing with new energy’ since double podium in Spain as he offers contract update

Lewis Hamilton has said that he and Mercedes will take “a lot” of confidence into this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix after the team logged their first double podium finish of 2023 last time out.

Hamilton and team mate George Russell both made it onto the rostrum at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with Mercedes emerging as the nearest challenger to Red Bull driver Max Verstappen in race trim.

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Asked how much confidence the team have following their breakthrough result, Hamilton said: “Yeah, definitely a lot. We’ve been making progress and the car… [After] the last race, we’ve all been buzzing, I think, back at the factory.

“The whole team has this new energy and it feels like we’ve kind of got a North Star, we know where we’re going and we know how to get there. So everyone’s just churning away and working as hard as possible.

“I’m excited coming here. We genuinely don’t know whether this track suits our car, and the car’s characteristics, but the weather may change that, and we’ll see.”

Hamilton also confirmed during Thursday’s press conference in Montreal that there had been “progress” regarding a new Mercedes contract, having said after the Spanish GP that he was set for more discussions with team boss Toto Wolff.

“I’ve seen Toto, we’ve talked several times, we have a great relationship, but there’s nothing else to say at the moment,” the seven-time world champion commented.

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Pushed about the situation later on, Hamilton added: “I don’t really have a huge amount to say. It’ll get done when it’s done, if that’s next week, if that’s in a month’s time. As long as it gets done, it doesn’t… I’m not really bothered.”

When the race weekend gets under way at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Hamilton has the potential to set two outright records, with the 38-year-old currently tying Michael Schumacher on six pole positions and seven race victories in Canada.

Meanwhile, Mercedes will be looking to strengthen their grip on P2 in the constructors’ standings, having moved above rivals Aston Martin with their double podium.