Why Lewis took up Thai boxing
Gladiator Hamilton starts Thai boxing in bid to win back Formula One crown
LEWIS Hamilton has taken up Thai boxing as he tries to win back the Formula One world title he lost to his old sparring partner Nico Rosberg.
The triple world champion, a karate black belt as a boy, has been honing his fitness in the ring ready for the physical demands of driving the faster, more demanding breed of 2017 cars, which vroom-vroom into competitive life here at Melbourne’s Albert Park this weekend.
It is understood that Hamilton has rigidly stuck to his demanding Muay Thai regime throughout the winter and even fitted in boxing g sessions during recent testing in Barcelona.
Muay Thai is known as ‘the e art of eight limbs’ because itt involves combat with fists,, elbows, knees and shins.. Fighters strike from an upright position; there are also various grappling techhniques. It is said to teachh mental discipline, as well as developing physical prowess.s.
‘I am always looking for new w ways to keep fit,’ said 32-yearrold Hamilton. ‘Training canan be boring; repetitive. So I have tried something new. It’s working for me. I feel like a gladiator.’
New regulations have not only made the cars look more muscular, and perform some four seconds a lap quicker, but ripped up the formbook, or at least torn a few pages out of it. However, Mercedes remain the team to beat after clocking up the most miles in testing — showing pace and reliability.
But the Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen were righti t on t theiri t tails,i providingidi hope that the racing may not be as processional as it has been in recent years.
‘Ferrari will be strong, no question,’ said Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda. ‘So will Red Bull. Nobody knows yet where and when each team will be strongest. Melbourne will give us some clues, but that is a very particular track, so it will not be until the next two races in Shanghai and Bahrain that we will really know the pattern.
‘I do believei it willi be an exciting year. The drivers will find out what it is like driving four seconds faster. That extra speed will test their neck muscles far more, and pushing hard is what people want to see.
‘It is my responsibility to make sure Mercedes succeed, but I like competition and this year will be hard. I have no idea what the outcome will be.’
If Mercedes do end up being clearly ahead of the rest, the championship would boil down to a straight fight between Hamilton and his new team-mate Valtteri Bottas. The Finn joined after four seasons at Williams to take over from Rosberg, whose brisk retirement five days after winning the title shocked sport.
Hamilton, who until the final race of last season had never lost a series to Rosberg during a rivalry stretching back to their karting days, is desperate to claim a fourth title. ‘Lewis is highly motivated,’ said Lauda. ‘He is very happy. His fitness is at an impressive level. He is 100 per cent concentrated. The best ever preparation.’
Despite Lauda’s faith in Red Bull’s potential threat, their teenage star Max Verstappen has said his team have little chance of victory in Sunday’s first round of 20 grands prix.
‘Much can change during the course of the season, but we are not yet good enough to win,’ the Dutchman admitted.