Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton has praised his former rival Max Verstappen for his superior championship record this year.
Verstappen claimed his second title last month with a win at the Japanese Grand Prix and has won 14 of the 20 races so far this year, breaking the record for most wins in a single race. The previous season was held by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
Hamilton, who battled Verstappen for last year’s title until the final lap of the final race in Abu Dhabi, did not contest this year’s title after Mercedes got off to a torturing start to F1’s new specification. .
However, when asked for his thoughts on Verstappen’s record-breaking season in 2022, Hamilton had only good things to say about his fierce opponent from last year.
“I can’t say I’ve had the time to enjoy researching every aspect of what Max has been up to this year, but I think he’s done an incredible job,” Hamilton said. “He’s done everything that has to be done. The team has provided him with a great car and he gets delivered pretty much every weekend.
“He can be proud of the work he’s done. I know how it feels to be in a position like that, I mean he has a better chance of winning more races, two races. next, so he can set a record like now even further if we can’t stop him or Ferrari can’t stop him.
“But yeah, there’s really not much more to say. He did a great job.”
Hamilton has yet to win this season, meaning 2022 could be the first year since his debut in 2007 that he has failed to win a race. Although his best chance may have passed at the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, Hamilton is not ruling out a win at the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend, especially if the rain forecast is correct.
“I think we as a team are focused on making sure we have a competitive car next year,” he said. “We don’t know, to be honest, every time we get to a track, we’re surprised one way or another how big the distance is or how close we are. So I wouldn’t be. know until tomorrow [after qualifying] Where it is.
“I don’t know if the car will be spectacular here. I don’t know if we’ll come close to the last race, I don’t think we will. But I hope I’ll be surprised. and it is not the case.
“We know where our car will work and at what corners it won’t. I predict it won’t be the easiest on the road. But there’s weather, there’s all sorts of things that can be done. may happen.
“So out of the next two races, this is the best pick we’re going to have or the closest we’re going to have. The next race that I think with those long straights is going to be very difficult. towel.”
