Hamilton earns legend’s approval
AUTO RACING: Complimentary Jackie Stewart hopes 30-year-old can equal F1 title record
BAHRAIN — Jackie Stewart and Lewis Hamilton have never been the closest of acquaintances, but after his victory here under the lights, the Scot took Hamilton to one side and told him it was a matter of time before he matched his mark of three Formula One titles.
If Hamilton’s superlative performance — his third victory of the year, and his ninth in the past 11 races — has converted Stewart, then he must be doing something right.
Remember, when Stewart and Stirling Moss criticized Hamilton’s move from McLaren to Mercedes, the 30-year-old replied: “They don’t know what they’re talking about.”
Hamilton has become used to receiving disparaging comments from Stewart, but he resisted the temptation to say, ‘I told you so’ here, and was genuinely pleased to have received the compliment from a legend of the sport, who conducted proceedings on the podium.
“It’s always positive to have other real champions appreciate what you do,” Hamilton said after the race. “Afterwards he was talking to me — he saw my Men’s Health cover — and he said, ‘How much do you weigh?!’ It was really positive. He always talks about catching him. He said, ‘You’re going to catch me, but I’m fine with it.’ ”
No one seems capable of doing much to stop Hamilton equalling the 75-year-old’s British record of three titles. This win in Bahrain sent Hamilton 27 points clear of Nico Rosberg, his teammate. Hamilton has qualified on pole in every race this year and heads into the European season — which begins in Barcelona on May 10 — in the form of his life.
Hamilton, ever the perfectionist, believes there is more to come, but said he feels more confident in this year’s Mercedes car than ever. “I don’t know what the feeling of being unbeatable is, and from this race, it shows that we’re not unbeatable, because we didn’t get a one-two,” he said. “I feel very powerful in this car. I feel I’m able to get everything from it. I feel comfortable more in this one than I did last year.
“I feel like the power is greater than ever in terms of strength in the car. It’s like, I put it (the car) there, and it goes there. I know the potential that I have, and if I’m not living to that potential then I’m not satisfied. But I am getting close to my full potential. “Who knows where it is?” His approach out of the car has also been lauded, doing much to counter the traditional view that Rosberg was the more diligent engineer. “I study hard, man,” Hamilton said. “I work hard to understand my tires. I make notes about everything that I do — I’ve done that since Formula 3. Ultimately, I do the job, so ...”
The biggest threat seems likely to come not from Rosberg, who drove well in parts, but instead from a rejuvenated Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel won in Malaysia and Kimi Raikkonen finished second on Sunday.
Even Ferrari are stunned by the speed of their progress. “We have achieved over three months what normally would have required twice as much,” Maurizio Arrivabene, the team principal, said.