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Damon Hill has praised Lewis Hamilton for the “admirable” means he “stored his chin up” after the controversy of Abu Dhabi – and believes the Mercedes man is “completely motivated” to win a report eighth world title.
Eighteen months have handed since Hamilton misplaced out to Max Verstappen on the contentious season finale, along with his Dutch rival occurring to take final yr’s title too.
And Verstappen, 69 factors clear on this season’s championship, is primed to finish his hat-trick.
Hamilton, 38, has not received a race because the penultimate spherical of the 2021 marketing campaign – the longest dropping streak of his profession – however he heads to this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix following two consecutive podium finishes in his revamped Mercedes machine.
“It’s admirable the way in which Lewis stored his chin up after what occurred in Abu Dhabi,” Hill, the 1996 world champion, advised the PA information company.
“He acquired again on with the duty in hand and he’s driving higher once more this yr than he has executed earlier than. He’s beginning to gel with that automotive now and he has solved a number of the issues he confronted.
“So I might be amazed if he doesn’t wish to exit on a excessive by profitable that eighth title, and he’s completely motivated by that. He has acquired that longevity and he takes care of himself.
“He wants a aggressive automotive, half-a-chance, and somebody like Lewis will rise as much as that problem and discover extra in himself. In the mean time we’re seeing a happier Hamilton, and a cheerful Hamilton is a quick Hamilton.”
The British driver’s future on the grid, nevertheless, stays a scorching subject of hypothesis.
Hamilton has entered the ultimate six months of his present £40million-a-season contract with Mercedes. However regardless of a string of latest discussions with workforce principal Toto Wolff, a conclusion to the saga isn’t understood to be imminent.
“The speak is that Lewis is finalising a a lot longer-term deal that goes past his racing profession,” added Hill, 62.
“The automotive firm itself is concerned, so there is a little more forms on this deal.”
Hamilton is already 93 factors behind Verstappen within the standings after the Purple Bull driver raced to his sixth victory from eight rounds to equal Ayrton Senna’s profession tally of 41 wins final trip in Canada.
Following Verstappen’s triumph, Purple Bull workforce principal Christian Horner stated his star driver should now be thought-about amongst Method One’s all-time greats.
“Evaluating totally different eras is kind of tough,” stated Hill, who was talking at his Halow Mission charity occasion in Sandown following a world-first kart run on Zero artificial gas.
“They do many extra races than they used to within the sport. However, however, in each period there are one or two drivers who’re the cream of the crop, and you need to say Max is certainly one of them, together with Lewis and Fernando (Alonso).
“I definitely see him having his personal period known as ‘the Max Verstappen period’ the place he wins virtually every little thing.
“For those who respect nice drivers and the job they do then it’s nice to look at. However I perceive individuals wish to see a race and never an indication and now we have to be affected person and hope the others catch him up fairly rapidly.”
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