Lewis Hamilton will emerge stronger than ever following his unlucky Monaco Grand Prix defeat, where a simple strategic error cost him victory, according to two-time champion Mika Hakkinen.
The Briton lost out on victory when Mercedes chose to pit him under the Safety Car. It was an unecessary decision and one that proved fatal to his race winning chances as both Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel emerged ahead when Hamilton exited the pit lane.
You could see the look of despair on the Hamilton’s face when he climbed out of his car after the race, but he kept a level head and declared: “I’m going to win the next one.”
Moving on from the incident and focusing on the next race is, according to Hakkinen, the best way to handle the situation.
“That [winning in Canada] will be his motivation,” he told Reuters. “You cannot just start getting depressed about it, you have to learn and analyse everything that has happened, and get stronger and better.”
The Finnish driver has experienced his fair share of cruel blows during his career, but he insists each of them has made him a better driver and will do the same for Hamilton.
“All these things that happen in motor racing or in life, they make you stronger because you learn from those things. It’s just very hard in the position you are sitting, in the racing car, when everyone is staring at you,” he said.
“Millions of fans looking at it and asking why? It’s hard to be a driver sitting there and have to answer these questions.
“But you have to go on, you have to go flat out. You have to build up your confidence inside more and challenge the next grand prix.
“There’s a long way to go in the season. And Monaco is an example that anything can happen.”
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