Hamilton clear favourite to take 2018 title

Formula one: Mansell backs Brit driver

World champion Lewis Hamilton must be considered as the overwhelming favourite to win his fifth Formula One title this season, according to Nigel Mansell.

Mercedes have been the sport’s dominant force in recent times with Hamilton surpassing Sir Jackie Stewart as the only British driver to win more than three championships after he beat Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to the title last year.

Hamilton has kept a low profile over the winter following criticism he courted after comments made about his nephew in a social media post at Christmas.

But the 33-year-old will make his first public outing of the new year today when he takes the wraps off the Mercedes that 1992 world champion Mansell believes could fire him to further glory.

“There is no question that Lewis and Mercedes are the clear favourites again,” Mansell told Press Association Sport.

“Lewis has got many more years in him if he has got the appetite, and I can see no reason why he cannot win a few more world championships and set the bar very high for the future.

“I just hope for the good of Formula One that Ferrari, Red Bull and even McLaren can put a challenge to Mercedes so we can have some exciting racing.

Hamilton’s contract expires at the end of the year and, while his Mercedes team are confident he will sign a new two-year deal, the lack of a formal announcement is likely to keep the sport’s major players on their toes.

“I would be very surprised if Lewis did not sign a new deal with Mercedes,” Mansell added. “But if Red Bull or Ferrari were to do something special over the winter by making the jump over Mercedes, and then offer Lewis an incredible deal, who knows?”

“At the moment however, Lewis has the world at his feet, he is in the best car and at the best team, so why would you want to change it?”