Hamilton Sends Warning to Max Verstappen Amid Mercedes Contract Stance

• Lewis Hamilton has revealed plans to retake the Formula 1 title from Max Verstappen
• The record champion had a lethargic season while Verstappen won back-to-back titles
• The British driver has also been calm over his current contract situation with Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton has sent a stern warning to Max Verstappen and all the other Formula 1 drivers, ahead of the 2023 season.

Verstappen beat Hamilton to the F1 title for the second season running this year, after leading a dormant campaign throughout.

The Red Bull Racing driver benefitted from Mercedes' porpoising challenges, and poor tactical strategy from Ferrari, to win 15 times and set a new record for most races won in a single season.

Unlike in 2021, where the competition had to be decided on the last day at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Verstappen won the 2022 season with close to four races to go.

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Hamilton has now issued a warning that he intends to hunt down a record eighth title next season.

Mercedes recovered towards the end of the season with a couple of podium places. However, Hamilton failed to win a single race in an entire season for the first time in his glorious career.

Speaking to Bild, the 37-year-old revealed it won't be easy but he intends to reclaim his throne from Verstappen.

"I know how hard it is to be at the top and to stay there. We want to get back to the top! What gives us great hope is the end of this season. The last few races have shown a clear positive trend and prove that with perseverance, we can achieve anything."

The Brit was also quizzed about his contract issues at Mercedes. His current contract expires at the end of next season, but no negotiation talks have started, despite him expressed desire to remain with the Brackley outfit.

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Leclerc open to replacing Hamilton

Sports Brief has previously reported that a storm is brewing at the Ferrari camp, with reports emerging that main driver Charles Leclerl could be open to moving to Mercedes.

Leclerc finished in P2 behind Verstappen in the driver's championships, at the conclusion of the Formula 1 season recently.

His current contract with Ferrari runs until 2024, but the French driver has refused to rule out the possibility of joining other teams after a disappointing season, mostly attributed to the team's poor strategies.