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Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One world champion, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to reflect on his journey in Monaco ahead of this weekend's 81st Monaco Grand Prix. Recalling his first visit to the principality as a 13-year-old, Hamilton was struck by the event's history and grandeur."I really felt the place and its history," Hamilton said. "As I came through the tunnel, I remembered Ayrton (Senna) from watching it on TV as a kid. It felt surreal to think that I am now one of the 22 to do it - and that I have been doing it for so long."Hamilton's dream of racing in Monaco became a reality when he won the Grand Prix three times - in 2008, 2016, and 2019. He also purchased an apartment and now resides in the Mediterranean principality."I raced here the first time when I was 18 or 19," Hamilton added. "In Formula Three, it was epic. I had a rented scooter and was running around town. It was really epic for me. And then, I got to go on the grid, and it was crazy because I had only ever seen Martin Brundle there."Despite the recent struggles of his Mercedes team, Hamilton remains enthusiastic about driving and is eager to perform well in Monaco."We don't have any upgrades this weekend," Hamilton said. "The package was spread over the last two races. We have our highest downforce package and an evolved wing, but otherwise, I don't know where we'll be.""But I am more excited than I have been with the previous two cars. They were not so great. This one is a real work in progress and it's much better than last year."Hamilton emphasized the complexities of racing in Monaco, including the need to consider factors such as ride height, balance, weight distribution, cambers, and tows. He expressed optimism about the potential of his car and his team's ability to improve."I hope we just hit the ground running and we don't look back," Hamilton said. "But this car is more predictable and it is nice to drive. It's not perfect, but we are going in the right direction."

Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing is gearing up for the 2024 DTM season with a formidable lineup of drivers and teams. The brand will be represented by two established Performance Teams: Mercedes-AMG Team HRT and Mercedes-AMG Team WINWARD Racing. At the helm of the racing cars from Affalterbach, Germany, will be a quartet of talented drivers: Lucas Auer (Austria), Maro Engel (Germany), Arjun Maini (India), and Luca Stolz (Germany).Mercedes-AMG is celebrating 130 years of motorsport under the motto "Defining Motorsport since 1894," coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the DTM. The brand aims to bring the DTM trophy back to Affalterbach after its 2021 victory.Mercedes-AMG Team HRT will rely on the proven driver pairing of Arjun Maini and Luca Stolz, who have been teammates since 2022. Maini, the first Indian driver in DTM, made history in 2021 with a second-place finish at the Norisring. He showed strong form in the second half of the 2023 season and has been promoted to Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver status for 2024.Mercedes-AMG Team WINWARD Racing will field Maro Engel and Lucas Auer, both experienced and successful drivers in the DTM. Engel, a former DTM champion, has 13 race wins to his credit, while Auer has won four races and finished second in the championship standings twice.The 2024 DTM season will consist of eight rounds with a total of 16 races, taking place in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. The season opener will be held at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben from April 26 to 28, with the official test days in Hockenheim scheduled for early April.Arjun Maini expressed his excitement about returning to the DTM in 2024, aiming to deliver consistently strong results and build on his previous experience. He is particularly looking forward to the Norisring, where he scored his maiden DTM podium.Mercedes-AMG is determined to reclaim its dominance in the DTM after a challenging 2023 season. The brand is focused on building on its previous achievements and is confident in the abilities of its drivers and teams to bring home the championship title.