Lewis Hamilton is one of the best Formula 1 drivers if statistics are taken into account, as his 103 victories, 103 poles, 182 podiums and seven world titles endorse him. In the 2021 season, the Briton lost the World Cup to the detriment of Max Verstappen, so he did not break the record he holds jointly with Michael Schumacher, and many argue that the Mercedes man could have a lot of pressure to achieve it.
However, others think differently. The 1996 Formula 1 world champion, Damon Hill, is an authoritative voice within the paddock thanks to being among the fifteen drivers with the most victories in the category and his more than one hundred grand prix, and he believes that his compatriot does not have that factor stalking him.
The former driver of Williams or Jordan , among others, defends that Hamilton is one of the best in history despite not having won his eighth title: “I don’t know what goes through Lewis’s head, but I wonder if the The fact that he didn’t make it will have relieved him of the pressure in a way.
“He’s got seven world championships, and more wins and poles than anybody. If he gets to eighth, that’s fantastic, you don’t need any more testing,” Hill said. “Suppose he doesn’t get eighth, he can look back and see a wonderful run, it’s unbelievable what he’s achieved.”
The son of the only driver to make the Triple Crown of motorsport a reality (winning in Monaco in F1, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indianapolis 500) was about to win his first title in 1994, a collision with Schumacher ruined his odds.
Two years later, with Williams he was crowned world champion , but that would be his only championship, so Hill knows the pressure that comes with it: “I did everything I could to win once, and I could have tried another, but I didn’t.” I have no idea if I could do it year after year.”
“Seven or eight titles is a lot of pressure. There comes a time when you don’t want to feel that, but I still think Lewis is hungry and wants that eighth, and he’d rather face people than receive it on a silver platter,” he said.
Hamilton’s statements during the presentation of the W13 make Hill believe that the seven-time champion will give everything to regain his number 1 status: “He talked about how he pulled himself together, licked his wounds and reflected on how it all went.”
“His words about not letting it repeat itself suggest that he still doesn’t accept it. It was an unfortunate outcome,” Hill continued. “But it seems that the steps taken to clarify the procedures have satisfied him.”
“That makes it worth trying again, he’s motivated, it’s in the nature of the beast. He’s a driver, give him the car, tell him where to go and he’ll beat everyone to get the eighth title,” he said. .
Lewis Hamilton vs. George Russell
The British driver has a new driver at his side for this season following the addition of George Russell as Valtteri Bottas’ replacement, and the cars have also changed radically from previous years.
Asked if Hill expects Hamilton to face a more difficult season, the 1996 champion replied: “I can’t imagine it being more difficult than last year, because from start to finish it was very stressful from a competitive point of view. What can be more difficult is that he has a fast new driver at his side and he has to get to know him.
“But I don’t expect Lewis to be any different, it’s that he has something unknown and the competition is increasing,” he continued. “The regulations can give a surprise, they have to be able to fight. Lewis fully trusts that Mercedes is a team that will do everything to give him the right car, and I think he enjoys that challenge, it seems to motivate him more.”
