Photo Credit: AP
With five races remaining in the 2023 Formula 1 season, Lewis Hamilton is giving up the fight for the second place in the Drivers' Championship.
The British driver currently has 194 points, 30 back of Sergio Perez, and given how the Red Bull RB19 has performed so far this season, he doesn't see a way of overtaking the Mexican.
"I mean its ultimately largely dependent on Checo's performance moving forwards. As he should easily have second as you know," Hamilton recently stated.
Although Hamilton isn't confident he can catch Perez, he says he satisfied with what he has achieved with Mercedes despite the struggles they have faced this season.
"But I'm really proud of where we are, where I've managed to get to. I am really proud of the race performances so far," added Hamilton.
"Of course I want to try and do better and do more and if were to get second it would be amazing. But the main focus is really to try and get second for the team."
Hamilton focused on second in the Constructor Standings
However, Hamilton is hopeful Mercedes can secure second in the Constructors' standings despite Ferrari's improved form in recent races, as the Scuderia now trail Mercedes by 28 points.
"We definitely are not comfortably second, Ferrari are putting up a really strong fight. They've done an amazing job in the last couple of races," said Hamilton.
"It's going to really be a battle. I'm really excited for these next, the last back half of the season, to see if we can really squeeze more juice out of this car and try and finish ahead of them.
"But its going to take a real team effort. I really proud of where we are considering where we started at the beginning of the season."
