‘Gladiator’ Lewis ready for arena and all his rivals
LEWIS HAMILTON is charging into this F1 season like a gladiator – and has already forced his cowering rivals into a corner.
That’s the view of pundit and former driving ace David Coulthard (below), who says he has not seen this level of focus from Hamilton since the days when he was breaking into the sport.
And the reigning world champion’s determined attitude is a big warning to rivals Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
Channel 4 commentator Coulthard said: “I have studied his approach this year and there is a real energy and focus.
“I wouldn’t say he has meandered into any season, but I don’t think he has carried this impetus before.
“Just looking at his posts on social media and the interviews he has given, he is hitting this with the confidence of a gladiator. The other drivers are like lions in the corner, cowering.
“With the pressure on him, I might have been a tad nervous, but not him.
“He seems different – like chasing Michael Schumacher’s record has left him as a driver reborn. I’ve not seen him like this since he was a wee whippersnapper – and I think it’s the prize of chasing those records that’s spurring him on.
“If you look at your global entrepreneurs – former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is one I’m talking about – it reaches the stage where it’s not about money any more.
“Towards the end it wasn’t about the cash for Bernie, it was about the inner desire to push himself to see how far he could go and what he could build.
“And I think it’s the same for Lewis. He’s 35 now, he’s absolutely in his prime, and while Verstappen and Leclerc are very quick and aggressive, they don’t have his experience.”
Coulthard says the one unknown is the car Mercedes will be asking him to drive.
But the Scot believes that once that settles down after the first three races, Hamilton will have a few more landmarks in his sights.
Hamilton is seven wins short of Schumacher’s tally of 91, and four shy of his 155 podium finishes. The Mercedes man will also equal Schumacher on seven championship wins if he triumphs.
Coulthard added: “He’s got three records in his sights. It wouldn’t surprise me if he grabbed the lot.”