FOCUS POCUS
FORMULA ONE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX STAR MAN STILL WON’T LEWIS GROUND
LEWIS HAMILTON has been backed to carry on his fast and furious lifestyle and become the greatest Formula One driver of all-time.
The Mercedes star begins his quest to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles at tomorrow’s seasonopening Austrian Grand Prix.
And with 84 grands prix victories, Hamilton is only eight away from surpassing the German great as the sport’s most successful race winner.
At 35, Hamilton may have entered the twilight years of his career and already has a range of outside interests including his own clothing collection with fashion giant Tommy Hilfiger.
He also counts Will Smith, Justin Bieber, Neymar, Kanye West and Naomi Campbell among his celebrity friends – and has talked about a career in music when he parks up for the final time. Former F1 ace
BY FRANK HAYNES
Martin Brundle reckons Hamilton can successfully juggle his racing with his off-track exploits.
Brundle, now a pundit for Sky Sports F1, said: “There was a time a few years ago where he took a lot of criticism for not being focused enough. He seems like a workaholic to me.
“Lewis has got his fashion, his music and all the things that are important to him.
“Then he will be scuba diving somewhere – he’s all over the place. He just seems to compartmentalise it all. Then he just rocks up HAMILTON kicked off his world championship defence in emphatic fashion by completing a practice double for the seasonopening Austrian Grand Prix.
The delayed campaign finally got under way at Spielberg’s Red and delivers because he has the natural talent.
“It has contributed to his success, his ability to not fret over every lap, every lap time. He goes away, does what he does, comes back and focuses on F1.”
Hamilton, whose current £36million-a-year contract with Mercedes runs out at the end of the year, is chasing records that some thought would last a lifetime.
Brundle believes he has more to offer and has tipped the Brit to extend his stay at Mercedes.
He added: “Will he be doing this in his 40s? No he won’t.
“But I could see him doing one
Bull Ring yesterday but there was a familiar name at the top of the time charts, as Hamilton set a blistering pace in both practice sessions.
The 35-year-old finished two tenths clear of Mercedes teamLEWIS more contract. He has more to offer.”
F1 finally starts at the Red Bull Ring tomorrow, nearly four months later than planned due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Hamilton, the sport’s only black driver, spent lockdown playing a prominent role in the Black Lives Matter movement.
He has spoken of his own experiences of racism and recently told of an incident in 2008 preseason testing in Spain when some fans in the grandstand blacked-up and wore T-shrts with the words ‘Hamilton Family’.The six-time mate Valtteri Bottas. No other driver was within half-a-second of the Briton. Racing Point’s Sergio Perez was third, 0.6 sec slower than Hamilton, with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel fourth and Daniel Ricciardo fifth. world champ was applauded by Brundle for leading the drive for social change.
He said: “Through his talent and achievements, the six world titles, and his social media following, Lewis has a global platform.
“He’s used it incredibly well and I admire him for that.
“Lewis is undoubtedly revered in our business.
“He’s considered to be one of the greatest drivers of all time, if not the greatest driver of all time. There’s no doubt about that.
“What has been going on is really powerful and Lewis has played a key role in that.
“Formula One isn’t a diverse business, particularly. Motorsport in general is not.”