LEWIS HAMILTON looks like he will be in the driving seat for the world championship — next year.
That is the message coming from his team Mercedes, who have revealed they are about to switch more than half their workforce on to their 2014 Formula One car.
F1 teams are facing massive rule changes next season as the current V8 engines are replaced by 1.6 litre V6 turbos, which in turn will prompt a fundamental re-think on chassis design and aerodynamics.
And though Merc insist they will not abandon this year’s championship challenge, they look set to have more than one eye on the future.
Team chief Toto Wolff said: “We’re already working on 2014 and we’ll gradually raise the percentage of people working on next year’s car.
“I would say that in May we will reach a point where more than 50 per cent will work on the 2014 car.”
Wolff believes most teams will gradually follow Merc’s example.
He said: “There is no doubt that at a point in the summer everybody will switch their main resources to the 2014 car as this is a very complex machine.
“It all depends where you are in the standings. Those fighting for the title will of course concentrate longer on this year’s car.”
Wolff was adamant Mercedes’ decision did not mean they are waving the white flag already this season.
He said: “I want to be among the four top teams in the constructors’ championship and have a driver among the top four as well.”
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