Lewis Hamilton has been tipped to bounce back strongly against Max Verstappen once the machinery is under him.
Since the start of the ground-effect ruleset, which will be implemented for 2022, Red Bull and Max Verstappen have swept all before the seven-time F1 World Champion, going two seasons without a race victory.
Hamilton’s most recent victory, his 103rd, came at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2021 during the pivotal final lap of his historic championship battle with Verstappen. However, his winless record is expected to end the moment the vehicle he is driving is capable of winning.
Christian Klien: Don’t underestimate Lewis Hamilton
While Hamilton has a comparatively quiet two years as Verstappen has mopped up the majority of the success available, the seven-time World Champion still has the capacity to challenge the Dutch driver when his car comes on song again, believes Christian Klien.
The Austrian, who drove for Red Bull in 2005 and ’06, said Hamilton – like Fernando Alonso – will be back to his best the instant the car under him is capable of winning a title, which the W13 and W14 were not.
“You should not underestimate Lewis,” Klien said in an interview with RacingNews365.com.
“He is a top-class driver. He hasn’t lost any of his qualities. A bit like Fernando Alonso – give him the right car and he’ll show what he’s able to do. If he has the right car and finds extra motivation, then he can definitely be one who gives Max a run for his money.”
For now, Hamilton still has the edge over younger teammate George Russell in a straight fight, believes Klien, but Russell is ready to assume the leadership role at Mercedes once Hamilton decides to move on from F1.
“Russell is good. He showed that last year that he is ready,” Klien said.
“This year he battled, yet that is important for the expectation to absorb information. He’s as yet youthful and has numerous years to go. I certainly figure he can be the commander at Mercedes later on.
“This year Hamilton was far superior to Russell. Last year the jobs were turned around. Perhaps Hamilton was not 100% persuaded last year, since he was a seven-time Best on the planet with a vehicle that was not performing.
“He contributed a ton of time assisting the group with further developing a vehicle that was not cutthroat.
“Lewis showed his class, for certain excellent races where he showed what the vehicle was prepared to do. He was more steady than George. George was sad, yet in addition generally disliked the manner in which the vehicle worked.”
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