Stewart: 'Hamilton lacks the will Rosberg had to be champion'
F1 News
- GPblog.com
Former world champion Jackie Stewart does not see Lewis Hamilton taking an eighth world title. The Briton sees his compatriot as one of the best drivers in Formula 1 history, but in an interview with German Sport Bild, Stewart thinks the seven-time world champion's time is over.
Grand successes for Hamilton and Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton has been driving for Mercedes since 2013. With the team, the Briton enjoyed great success. With Mercedes, Hamilton became world champion six times between 2014 and 2020, the team taking the constructors' title in all those years (and 2021). Although Hamilton says he is still hungry for an eighth record title, three-time world champion Jackie Stewart seriously questions that.
"Lewis [Hamilton] is one of the best drivers who has ever driven in Formula 1. But, the truth is he has spent the last decade racing in a team that had virtually no competition." The now 84-year-old Stewart indicates that really only Hamilton's teammates provided any threat. "He always came out victorious, and then he lost to Nico Rosberg in 2016. With all due respect: a good driver, but not the most talented in the world."
Stewart does not see Hamilton taking eighth title
Stewart does see in Rosberg a characteristic that he believes Hamilton currently lacks. According to the Briton, Rosberg had an unconditional will to become world champion, Hamilton lacks that at the moment. Stewart therefore also does not see Hamilton winning an eighth championship:"That's why [the lack of will], and because the car is not as strong as it used to be. I think he has a serious problem with that".