Damon Hill was 36 when he turned Method 1 World Champion in 1996, the identical age Lewis Hamilton is now and can nonetheless be in December if – or is it when? – he claims his document eighth crown. Now 60 and newly vaccinated in opposition to you-know-what, Hill reckons he understands the place Hamilton’s head is likely to be at, following his latest choice to solely re- decide to the dominant Mercedes-AMG F1 group till the top of 2021. Whether or not he races on into subsequent yr and past is presently anybody’s guess – together with, maybe, his personal.
“I completely get it,” says Damon, who will attend a couple of third of the document 23 races scheduled for this yr in his position as pundit for Sky F1’s TV protection. “Lewis is on this place the place he can choose and select. As he’s acknowledged, he’s coming as much as the end-game. He is aware of he might race if he wished to for a very long time but, however he’s unsure. Being certain to a contract that goes past a sure variety of years, you don’t understand how you will really feel in terms of the crunch.”
Hill’s effective F1 profession – 21 GP wins for Williams, one other for Jordan and that emotional 1996 world title – hobbled to a tragic conclusion after a tough season in 1999. He knew the time had come. “Everyone has this at the back of their thoughts: ‘when will I’ve to cease racing, and can I do know when is the best time to cease?’” says Damon. “Preserving your choices open is the best factor to do. The query is whether or not he’ll be in a stronger negotiating place later this yr, and on previous observe document you’d say he most likely will likely be.
“However we noticed what occurred with Michael [Schumacher] at Ferrari the place you assume ‘they’ll look ahead to me’,” he provides as a warning. “The difficulty is Mercedes received’t and may’t. That’s the entice, and I’d be cautious of it. Assuming you might be indispensable is dangerous.”
As Hill says, “It’s extra of an issue for Mercedes, isn’t it? They must arrange their geese in a row for the long run.” As Crimson Bull boss Christian Horner has overtly admitted, his driver Max Verstappen will certainly be excessive on the checklist if Mercedes has any doubt about Hamilton’s future intentions. “Sure, and I believe Mercedes will likely be excessive on Max’s checklist as effectively,” says Damon. “He’s been very loyal to Crimson Bull, but when they will’t present the competitiveness he wants… Time is ticking. He was the youngest F1 winner again in 2016, however he hasn’t been in a position to combat for a championship but. That will likely be in his thoughts.”
Identical to final yr, Crimson Bull is finest positioned to problem Mercedes this season in its final marketing campaign with manufacturing facility Honda energy, however Ferrari too ought to be a contender – if it has recovered the bottom misplaced from the power-unit legality controversy that set it again earlier than final time period even started. “With the engine freeze [from 2022] and just one extra improve to return they’d higher have gotten it proper this time, in any other case they are going to be caught,” Hill factors out, who relishes the prospect of Carlos Sainz Jr taking over Charles Leclerc, following the Spaniard’s swap from McLaren. Likewise, newly put in Daniel Ricciardo versus Lando Norris is a tantalising prospect within the papaya vehicles.
