Lewis Hamilton will be a more aggressive driver this year. “You will see,” said the seven-time world champion in Bahrain on the first day of Formula 1 training in the new season.
It was his answer to the question with which attitude he would compete with Max Verstappen.
Mercedes
The Mercedes driver fought a dogged duel for the world title with Verstappen last year. The two also came into contact several times on the track. The rivals started the final race with the same number of points. In that hectic Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Verstappen managed to dethrone Hamilton as world champion by overtaking him on the last lap.
‘No grudge’
“I don’t hold a grudge,” said the 37-year-old Briton. “I’m not put together that way and that’s not how I approach the season. I don’t have any problems to take with me, because I can’t change the past. I do want to get the best out of myself.”
‘Car must be faster’
Hamilton was not too positive about the new Mercedes after the test races in Bahrain last week, which has been streamlined very differently due to the new rules for aerodynamics. He didn’t think the car was very fast yet and repeated those words during the training sessions for the grand prix. “I hope we have learned something from the test races and gained a better understanding of how we can make the car faster, but I don’t expect any major progress,” he said. The Briton was seventh in the first free practice.
50,000 euros fine
It was also announced on Friday that Hamilton has been fined 50,000 euros by the umbrella federation FIA. The former world champion in Formula 1 did not appear at a large gala in Paris after the end of last season, which he was obliged to do. The Briton was extremely disappointed with the way he lost his world title to Max Verstappen at the time.
Hamilton and the FIA have agreed that the money from the fine will be spent on charity.
Also read: Max Verstappen big winner at FIA gala