Formula One news

Hamilton tips Button for title

Lewis Hamilton is confident in his opinion that compatriot Jenson Button will be the next man to win a Formula One world title. With the Brawn driver on top of the championship after five wins from six races so far this year, the reigning Champion lingers in ninth place with just nine points to his name.

Hamilton, winner of the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix, suffered from a miserable time this year after a mistake in qualifying and gearbox change resulted in a back of the grid starting position. In the race, the McLaren driver picked up more damage after colliding with Nick Heidfeld before eventually recovering to twelfth position.

Button passes Hamilton for third place in the Bahrain Grand Prix

With Button now having taken race win number six of his career, the Brawn pilot is just three away from Hamilton's total in the record books. "The next few races are going to be very tough," said Hamilton, with the next trio of Grands Prix being held at the high to medium-speed Istanbul, Silverstone and Nürburgring circuits. "We do get better, but not at the same pace as Brawn.

"When we get to Turkey it will be an even tougher race than Monaco, for sure. It's all high-speed corners and we don't have a good car on high-speed corners, so it will perhaps be a similar finish to Barcelona, but we will push to get as high as possible."

24-year-old Hamilton has praised Button, five years his senior, since Brawn GP's season-opening win in Australia and continues to count on his compatriot for this year's championship. "Jenson's doing a fantastic job and clearly he's in the best position to win the championship," Lewis continued. "All the best to him - I'd definitely put my money on him. All World Champions go through tough times and that's what we're going through."

more news

• 28 Nov.
  • Lola ready to enter Formula 1
  • Raikkonen close to Citroen WRC deal
  • Tung looking for 'useful' test
• 27 Nov.
  • Montreal seals Formula One contract
  • GPUpdate TV: Domenicali - high hopes for 2010
  • Jerez test: The cast
  • Wurz plays down USF1 link
  • Renault to test Baguette, Tung and Di Grassi
  • Alonso makes second visit to Ferrari
  • Force India confirms Sutil and Liuzzi
  • All new teams now FOTA members
  • Sauber buys team back from BMW
  • De la Rosa pushing for race drive
  • Ecclestone: I won't buy Donington
  • Haug becomes part of F1 in Schools
  • Volkswagen to provide F1 engines?
• 26 Nov.
  • Alguersuari: 2010 contract is signed
  • Conway and Ericsson to test for Mercedes
  • 4 driver options left for Lotus
  • 'F1 in need of Schumacher return' - Verstappen
• 25 Nov.
  • 'Fantastic opportunity' - Di Resta on Force India test
  • Recap: N.Technology court bid fails
  • BMW testers excited about Jerez
  • Brawn disappointed with Button drives, ponders Lauda
  • Piquet to drive in Massa kart race
  • Brawn aero chief wins award
  • Gillett disappointed with government position
  • Mercedes hopes to confirm line-up by Christmas
• 24 Nov.
  • Briatore verdict expected in January
  • Donington still hopeful over F1 race
  • Montreal race confirmation imminent
  • Massa names drivers for karting event
  • Campos car passes FIA safety tests
  • Strong test could seal drive, says Mallya
  • Force India to test di Resta and Hildebrand
  • Courts to hear Briatore case
  • Silverstone GP deal forthcoming
• 23 Nov.
  • GPUpdate TV: Sam Michael - building on 2009
  • Theissen waiting on entry decision
  • Mercedes delighted with Rosberg confirmation

Homepage