McLaren’s Jenson Button has tipped his former team-mate Lewis Hamilton to claim the 2016 Formula 1 world championship.
Mercedes racer Hamilton and his team-mate Nico Rosberg are going head-to-head for the title for the third consecutive season.
Just two points separate the drivers after 14 races, with seven still to go. Button and Hamilton spent three seasons together at McLaren from 2010 to 2012 before the now triple world champion moved to Mercedes.
He believes Hamilton has the edge and has predicted his former team-mate will be crowned champion again this year.
“I personally feel that Lewis… Italy didn't go his way but I think he's going to win the world championship," Button said in an interview with Sky Sports.
"He's come from such a long way back, everyone forgets how far he was behind Rosberg, he closed that gap over three races.
"For me Lewis, when the car's working for him, the results are a lot more consistent, qualifying's impressive, and in a race he's in a very strong position.
"Mentally [Hamilton’s] a lot stronger than he used to be, he's got a really good chance and he probably is going to win a fourth world title."
Button recently confirmed that he will take a step back from F1 for the 2017 season, with Stoffel Vandoorne partnering Fernando Alonso at McLaren next year.
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