That is the view of Sky Sports News reporter Craigಞ Slater, who pointed to Hamilton’s comments after the Mexico City Grand Prix as a clear i💞ndication of where his head is at. 

After finishing second behind168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Max Verstappen in Mexico, Hamilton said he is confident Mercedes can “build a great car” for next season but warned “I’ve🔴 heard that Red Bull are progressing as well.” 

“So we have to൩ be really, really strategic and really clinical - they know that already - in order for us to be battling those guys. They are so quick on the straights, we are losing two and a half tenths into Turn 1,” the seven-time world champion added. 

“But I believe. I’m ready. If we can get a carꦉ that can match them, we’re going to have some great battles next year.” 

Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 💝ꦍpodcast, Slater noted how the development war is clearly at the forefront of Hamilton’s mind.

“I think next season is already being contested in a way,” Slater said. “Certainly in Lewis Hamilton’s head, it seems to me, his mind is full of where next year’s car is and to what extent some of the upgrades, which will have relevance [next yꦺear] are being brought towards the end of this season. 

“He’s obviously clearly ꦕworried about how early Red Bull started developing next year’s car and has a handle on that again.

“So I think in these kinds of end of season races, you do get this idea that the teams are beginning to marsha𒀰l their ideas about next year and who necessarily might be where.

“Which I think, I guess from a morale perspective, [Mercedes will try to] get some results in now but you can see Lewis Hamilton very🥃 mu🦄ch turning his mind to 2024.”

Slater also suggested whether Hamilton played a role in influencing Mercedes’ decision to swap James Allison and Mik♎e Elliott’s roles around earlier this year. 

Elli꧒ott’s ܫshock exit from the team was announced by Mercedes following the Mexico City Grand Prix. 

“It’s quite a significant movement bringing Allison back,” Slater said, prior to the news about Elliott. “Especially when you have promoted someone to a theoretically higher ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚrole.

“The rear𒊎rangement at Mercedes over the last two years, not saying Lewis was negative in any way in 2022, but there was a kind sobriety and restraint about the way he would speak.

“And I sense now, he’ꦉs much more on the front foot again. I think he feels that yes, the building blocks and the right people are in place, in terms of where the car development is going.

“That little quote I made waꦐs almost, wa𓆉s that in reference to Mike Elliott, or the engineers who want to go a different way from the kind of Red Bull path that Mercedes have now adopted?

“But you just get the sense,🎉 Lewis feels that at least the right personnel are in the ri💟ght spots with Allison in the lead.

“It’s just can ♎they set the targets and parameters right now and are Red Bull just a little bit too far ahead?💛 Is [Adrian] Newey beatable on aero over this winter? That’s a big question."