Berlin, Feb. 5: Fernando Alonso may have singled out Michael Schumacher as a big Formula One title rival this season but McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton was having none of that after calling his own team’s new car a “masterpiece” on Friday.
Speaking after a public launch in the centre of the German capital, the 26-year-old Briton played down the chances of the country’s most successful driver chalking up a record eighth championship. “I won’t say what I think,” Hamilton said when asked about his Mercedes rival’s prospects and Ferrari driver Alonso’s viewpoint.
He then gave an insight anyway. “He’s a seven-times world champion so you have to assume he will be at his best this year, and if his car and his team have done a good job. Personally I don’t think it’s going to be much different to the previous season but he can easily prove us wrong,” said Hamilton.
Schumacher, now 43, made a disappointing comeback last season after three years out and was comfortably beaten by younger teammate and compatriot Nico Rosberg.
Jenson Button, who won the 2009 championship with Brawn, had a different perpective to McLaren teammate Hamilton. “I think Mercedes will be competitive, yes,” he said. “With Ross (Brawn) at the helm they will produce a competitive car and give Nico and Michael a chance to have good results,” he said.