‘Hamilton lacked competition’
FERRARI new boy Carlos Sainz has weighed in on the reasons behind Lewis Hamilton’s stunning dominance of the
Formula One grid in recent seasons.
Sainz has suggested that a number of Lewis
Hamilton’s seven
Drivers’ Championship title wins were aided by a distinct lack of competition from the rest of the grid.
The Stevenageborn driver has enjoyed a fiveyear period of unrivalled dominance in F1, scooping every available title while helping Mercedes to achieve no less than seven successive Constructors’ Championship triumphs.
Sainz, who opted to leave McLaren in favour of Ferrari ahead of this season, has declared that Hamilton’s lack of genuine opposition in previous campaigns has indeed helped him to establish a firm grip on proceedings.
Hamilton got off to the perfect start once again this year with victory in last month’s Bahrain Grand Prix, aiming to clinch an unprecedented eighth world title this season.
He has regularly faced criticism from onlookers suggesting that he has only been successful up to this point as a result of Mercedes’ ability to consistently produce championship winning cars.
Sainz believes that Hamilton has been helped by Mercedes’ dominance.
However, the Spaniard also claimed that his Mercedes rival has been successful on merit, admitting that he is a huge admirer of the 36-year-old’s formidable talent behind the wheel.
“He has all the qualities a driver would like to have,” Sainz told Italian outlet Corriere della Sera when quizzed on Hamilton.
“He has no weaknesses, I see that on the track. Maybe he lacked competition in some seasons, he had to beat one-two opponents at most.
“But if we put everyone in the same car, Lewis would be among the best. Almost certainly the best.” – Express Newspapers