Formula One legend David Coulthard predicts Lewis Hamilton could retire soon
WHEN Lewis Hamilton takes to the track in Melbourne next week most expect him to be on the road to another Formula One world title.
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But just look into his eyes first.
If you don’t see the old sparkle and passion, chances are he could quit altogether – even before the season ends in Abu Dhabi next November.
That’s the sensational view of David Coulthard, former Grand Prix legend himself and now Channel 4 commentator, who says: “It wouldn’t take much for him to say, for want of a better word, f*** it? ‘Thank you, I’m off.”
Coulthard isn’t close to Hamilton but he knows him well enough to realise that after his gripping battle with Nico Rosberg last season, he might not have the appetite for another 20-race marathon.
Rosberg took everyone by surprise when he quit after winning the title last season.
Lewis Hamilton's mentality has been questioned by David Coulthard
Coulthard will not be surprised if Hamilton doesn’t deliver a similar shock decision before the year’s out.
“It could be sooner than we may all want,” he predicts.
“He’s got enough money to make those decisions.
“When things are working well you see the passion, you can see the little boy in the man. But when you see him being asked the same questions day in day out, you can see the eyes glaze over.
“And when that passion goes, you can fool the people but you can’t fool yourself. He could even go during the season.”
David Coulthard (right) believes Lewis Hamilton could retire
Nico Rosberg quit after winning the Drivers Championship last season
Even so, with a less experienced partner in Valtteri Bottas to battle with, Hamilton and Mercedes start the season as firm favourites.
Coulthard reckons Bottas could give him a run for his money but as far as he and the bookies are concerned, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen are the only realistic challengers.
“Lewis is beatable and this is Bottas’s opportunity to show if he’s exceptional. We know he’s good but how good is he?” Coulthard asked.
So who is to be Hamilton’s No 1 challenger?
“Ferrari have a better car than they have had in the last few years but I don’t see Raikkonen beating Vettel over the course of a season. It could be Vettel if he delivers.”