1996 Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill has suggested that Lewis Hamilton’s “instinctive” speed is starting to depart him.
At 38 years of age, Hamilton is the second oldest driver on the grid, behind only Fernando Alonso.
The Briton has enjoyed unrivalled success during his stint in the sport but has had a difficult 12 months with Mercedes, who has been competing off the front-running pace.
Last year, Hamilton was joined at the team by George Russell, who bested him in the Drivers’ Championship as Hamilton endured his first ever win-less F1 campaign.
Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Hill described the situation between the Mercedes duo: “We’re competitive and political. You have to be aware of rising forces or empires.
“George has to work very hard to make himself a valued asset of the team, which he’s doing. He has to do the hard work. Lewis doesn’t have to.
“They know what they’ve got with Lewis – they know, given half a chance, he’ll be back on top form and can deliver extraordinary races.
“They know George can do that too, but he’s yet to prove it.
“Lewis is very good at sussing this out – he’ll be thinking: ‘I’ll let you do the hard work, George, because it’s exhausting’.
“As president of the GPDA he’s got a big workload, George. Lewis’ strategy is to remove distractions and leave time for downtime.
“Even with Valtteri Bottas, Lewis took a relaxed approach to the start of seasons. He lets things unfold and, eventually when he sees an opportunity, he steps on the gas and disappears into the distance.”
Hill believes that the Hamilton/Russell partnership is a case of history repeating itself and suggested that Hamilton is over his peak performance.
“Niki Lauda had Alain Prost arrive. When the older, experienced driver is faced by the speed of a young arrival, they can get depressed about it or devote their energy to making sure the outcome in the race is the thing that matter,” he said.
“They may give up a bit in qualifying. In their late-30s they can no longer do those transcendental laps. They focus on the laps.
“I remember, for example, I tested a motorbike at 20 years old. I flew round the track.
“As you get older, maybe you’ve had crashes, your brain says: ‘I need to be more circumspect’.
“George is super quick and is revelling in the early part of his career. I don’t know if Lewis has acknowledged that he can’t match that. I’m sure he will do, eventually.
“It’s possible that the instinctive, unconscious speed has started to leave him.”
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