Nico Rosberg questions Lewis Hamilton’s championship potential
Nico Rosberg, former teammate of Lewis Hamilton, expressed doubt about Hamilton’s current ability to win another Driver’s Championship, stating that his “level is not quite there yet”. The comments come as Hamilton approaches the Monaco Grand Prix, one of the season’s most prestigious races, among the favourites to secure his first victory with Ferrari. He recently achieved his best performance with the team, finishing second at the Canadian Grand Prix, reports BritPanorama.
Despite Hamilton’s podium finish in Canada, Rosberg remains skeptical about the Briton’s chances for an eighth world championship this year. In a conversation on the High Performance podcast, Rosberg noted, “It would be great to see him keep progressing as he has into this year. And I think he will win a race at least this year.” However, he emphasized that Hamilton’s current car is not competitive enough for a championship run.
Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has been fraught with challenges, with the driver describing his early struggles last season as feeling “useless”. Rosberg highlighted the difficulties elite drivers face, even those on contracts worth millions. “Even though the best in Formula One are earning £37.1 million a year, the struggles are still real,” he said, acknowledging the pressure Hamilton faces as he strives to deliver results in a new environment.
Reflecting on their time as teammates, Rosberg noted the complexities of the dynamic between them, remarking, “Even though bad things happened, you can’t fix that so easily either. Who is going to say sorry first? I don’t know.” He expressed admiration for Hamilton’s longevity in the sport, stating, “It’s incredible how he has managed to build his life with such stability to be able to have such longevity.” As he faces strong competition from teammates and rivals alike, the coming races will be critical for Hamilton in determining his path forward with Ferrari.
