1Lewis Hamilton expects Mercedes to be more competitive in 2024Credit: Getty

Mercedes are facing a big off-season as they bid to challenge Red Bull’s dominance in the new season.

Red Bull won all but one of the 22 races in 2023 as Max Verstappen claimed a third consecutive title ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez.

Hamilton finished behind the Red Bull duo in third on the Drivers’ Championship and is hopeful ahead of the upcoming F1 campaign.

Speaking at the season-ending FIA prize gala in Baku earlier this month, he explained: “It’s always the exciting time of the year because I have seen the car in the wind tunnel.

“I always go by the wind tunnel when I go to the factory and to see it evolving in whichever direction it ends up going.

“As soon as I was leaving, again I popped in just to see where we were and when I come back it’ll be again a different animal.

“But I have full faith in everyone that’s working on it and hopeful that we’ll be in a much more competitive position next year.”

Hamilton had been presented with an award at the ceremony in recognition of his third place finish this year.

However, there was a mystery surrounding the trophy after the event.

The Brit driver’s award went missing, with a fan claiming he had been given it as a “gift” on social media.

F1 pre-season testing for the 2024 season starts in Bahrain on February 21.

Meanwhile, the season itself will kick-off with the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir on March 2.