STREET FIGHTER LEWIS
Threat to Mercedes means Hamilton will need to scrap for eighth world title, says Coulthard
LEWIS HAMILTON can cement his place in F1 history – but there is going to be no stroll to the finishing line.
The Stevenage ace is one title away from being crowned the greatest of all time, with his eighth seeming tantalisingly within his grasp.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team have established themselves as the top dogs – winning their last seven constructors’ championships and blowing the competition out of the water with their 36-year-old driver reigning supreme.
But former F1 driverturned-pundit David Coulthard believes that Hamilton will be pushed far harder than in the past few years.
He said: “Can Lewis win it again? Of course.
“But I’m expecting him to have much more of a battle on his hands this season – and there are many reasons for that.
“For a start, he’s coming off a short testing programme that doesn’t look like it has gone to plan. And the signs are that Max Verstappen and Red Bull have built some momentum from theirs.
“The fact that Red Bull have been able to do more laps with the cars running more cleanly is in their favour. It leaves them to focus on fine-tuning. It’s a positive.
“And Red Bull have found peace with Honda – their relationship has developed for the better.
“Mercedes are a formidable outfit, however. They have proved it time and again.
“But I think there will a closing of the gap from front to rear.
“Williams were too far off the pace and Mercedes were too far out in front. I think that will change. It will be more competitive.
“If that happens, there are drivers who can race wheel-to-wheel with Lewis.
“Obviously, Valtteri has been able to study him at close quarters, but we have yet to see consistency from him.
“Max Verstappen is not intimidated. At McLaren, Daniel Ricciardo has that capability as well.
“Charles Leclerc has all the skills and speed, but he’s still making the odd mistake and it will be interesting to see how Carlos Sainz settles in at Ferrari.
“In one respect, these drivers have been working with one arm behind their backs because Mercedes have been all-dominant.
“But I think it’s going to be a much closer-fought battle in both of the championships.”