Hamilton, who has agreed a two-year contract extension with Mercedes, had been on course to win a record-breaking eighth world title at the season-ending 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Abu Dhabi Grand Prix before race♋ director Michael Masi bent the rules to trigger a Safety Car restart on the final lap. 

Masi’s decision - which ultimately led to his sacking following an FIA review - handed 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen a significant🅠 advantage over Hamilton. The Red Bull driver used fresh soft tyres to overtake Hamilton, on old hards, during a♌ final-lap shootout that determined the destiny of the world championship. 

Seven-time world champion Hamilton has remained winless in F1 e𝓰ver since and has been powerless to stop Verstappen’s domination, with the Dutchman romping towards a third consecutive title in 2023. 

“I’m not really a revenge 𝐆person,” Hamilton said ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix when asked if he sees winning an eighth title as revenge for the manner in which he lost out in Abu Dhabi two years ago. 

“It’s not really about revenge. It’s not about redemption. That’s🌌 in the past. There’s nothing you can do about the past. But what we can do is work harder, be more precise, be better moving forward. 

“I truly believe that, with this team we can win more world championships and more races together. That’s where all my energy is going.”&♈nbsp;

ꦕHamilton insisted there was “no” doubt that he wanted to continue with Mercedes and extend his tenure in F1. 

“I definitely wanted to continue,” he explained.ꦕ “I think in life, when you have ups and down🙈s, like last year was a difficult year. 

“I am pretty sure everyone was questi꧑oning whether they wanted to continue because it’s tough at the top. It’s such a tough sport but that thoug🏅ht quickly goes away and you put your mind and energy into the best you can be and deal with the situations that you’re faced with. 

“I am really proud of✨ what we’ve achieved last year to get through it. Whilst we started on the wrong foot this year to have🃏 some really great results, we’re second in the constructors’ championship and the plan is to keep that and then close the gap to the guy ahead.”

He added: “W꧅e’re trying ꦏto win more world championships.

“The unfinished b꧒usiness is getting us back to the top, back to fightin🌠g for championships.

“We’ve been the most success🍸ful team in histo꧋ry, the most successful run in 10 years, but it’s been a challenge, the past year.

“It’s getting us back to where we belong, and where we operate in all those cylinders, which we’re seeing Reꩵd Bull are doing.”

While Hamilton said the goal for 2024 and 2025 is simple, he acknowledged that it won’tဣ൲ be easy to achieve. 

“The goal is simple,” he said. “Setting🐟 the target is simple, achieving that target is not. But it’s 🌸going to take all of us pulling together. 

“I think every🧜 team here and every driverಞ is working so hard to get on top of the aero package that they have and the team they have, and pull everyone together. 

“Having everyone firing on all cylinders is not easy i🦄n a large team a🍒nd so that takes consistent work. Same from a driver’s perspective. Just making sure you’re performing every weekend. 

“I still, even though I have been driving and racing all these years, I feel like I can improve each weekend. I think that’s what I love about this🌱 sport. 

“You’re never going to reach perfection but the pursuit of perfection is one of the most exciting things about ♓what we do.”