{"id":298035,"date":"2023-12-01T09:54:49","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T09:54:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=298035"},"modified":"2023-12-01T09:54:49","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T09:54:49","slug":"toto-wolff-snubs-verstappen-as-hamilton-tipped-for-title-if-condition-is-met","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/racing\/f1\/toto-wolff-snubs-verstappen-as-hamilton-tipped-for-title-if-condition-is-met\/","title":{"rendered":"Toto Wolff snubs Verstappen as Hamilton tipped for title if condition is met"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Toto Wolff has claimed that Lewis Hamilton is still the \u2018best driver in the world\u2019 and he can beat Max Verstappen to the Drivers\u2019 Championship title in 2024. However, the Mercedes team principal did accept that doing so depends on his team producing a car worthy of battling Red Bull.<\/p>\n

This was something that Mercedes failed to do in 2023 with the W14 proving a frustrating successor to the W13, which was unpopular with both the team principal and drivers Hamilton and George Russell.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Silver Arrows\u2019 2023 challenger carried over many of the same problems from its predecessor with unpredictable performance levels and an inconsistent balance making it hard for Hamilton and Russell to find a stable operating window.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite the considerable flaws that the W14 possesses, Hamilton\u2019s performances have remained at a characteristically high level. The 38-year-old finished on the podium seven times in 2023 and headed into the final round of the year at the Yas Marina Circuit with third place in the Drivers\u2019 Championship standings already wrapped up.<\/p>\n

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“Lewis is still the very best driver in the world,\u201d Wolff explained after the season finale in Abu Dhabi. \u201cIf we give him the right car, he will certainly compete for the world title. I have no doubt about that. It is clear that it will be difficult if we have the current car. In that case, you always have good and bad weekends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamilton can at least take some comfort from the fact that Mercedes managed not to regress in the Constructors\u2019 Championship standings in 2023. The Silver Arrows held onto P2 by just three points thanks to George Russell\u2019s podium finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, pipping Ferrari to the vice-champion crown.<\/p>\n

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