© LAT Photographic for Williams F1
1996 Formula 1 champion Damon Hill says Lewis Hamilton does not dominate Formula 1 just because of his car and gives his own example as proof.
Damon Hill drove for Williams from 1993 until 1996, when he finally won the F1 title. Williams at the time had the dominant car on the grid, but just as Damon was closing in on his first title win, the team decided not to keep him for 1997.
“It is a lot easier if you have the best car, I will say that having had the best car at one time in my career,” Hill explained.
“But they don’t give you the best car forever and in my case, I didn’t stay with my team — they probably thought I wasn’t worth giving the best car to.
“With Lewis, they’re tripping over themselves to keep him in the car. Mercedes have nabbed him at the start of their development as a team because they knew he was the best driver.
“The best drivers get the best equipment, and he’s held on to that position because no one can touch him.”
The Briton however says Lewis Hamilton himself would enjoy harder competition from the rest of the grid.
“Even Lewis would say he would like a bit more competition from time to time because it is more thrilling, and it’s more possible for him to show what he can do.
“But it also might make his total of seven world titles unassailable in the long run.”
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However, at the Turkish Grand Prix, Hamilton had the opportunity to “show what he can do”, and Damon is impressed.
“I think he relishes the opportunity to show how much better he is than everyone else and he certainly did that yesterday.
“I think it’s very difficult to appreciate how exhausting it is to pull yourself together every year, year on year, to fight for a World Championship because it’s one to thing to be a racing driver and compete in Formula 1, but it’s quite another to have the expectation that Lewis has created for himself every year.
“That means dealing with the questions from us guys, the press, and also the requirements for sponsors and travel and organisation of your life because you can’t just turn up to a hotel and walk in the front door – he’ll never get anywhere!
“It’s exhausting to do, what 13 seasons now he’s done in Formula 1, and that’s hard work in itself, but to keep going and keep fresh like he has done is extraordinary.
“He is saying there basically he feels fresh as a daisy so that is bit of a warning to everyone else,” concluded Hill.
