Nico Rosberg’s success in 2016 showed Lewis Hamilton is “vulnerable” when unsettled, Damon Hill believes.
After two consecutive defeats to the Briton in the championship in 2014 and 2015, the German upped the mind games with little incidents and moments that darkened the atmosphere at Mercedes but also kept Hamilton from reaching his best, allowing Rosberg to finally claim his Formula 1 title in Abu Dhabi.
Nico retired after that race and was replaced by Valtteri Bottas, but the Finn is yet to even get close to beating the now six-time champion by playing fair in the three seasons since.
And Hill thinks that proves, when everything is as Hamilton likes it, he is almost unbeatable.
“Weaknesses? It’s hard to think of any,” said the 1996 world champion in the latest edition of the official Formula 1 magazine.
Also Read:
- Bottas pushing to beat Hamilton: I ‘struggle to accept’ he’s better
- Brundle no longer sure Hamilton wins in equal cars: ‘The tide is turning’
- Leclerc agrees with Verstappen on Hamilton: ‘Nobody is unbeatable’
“As a driver, he now has an almost unassailable mix of extraordinary talent, experience and confidence.
“It’s a blend that is more than the sum of the parts. He is really remarkable.”
It is for that reason then, the current Sky Sports pundit believes Rosberg had the key to success against Hamilton.
“The only way to beat him is to do what Nico did and make him feel uncomfortable,” he added.
“Lewis doesn’t do cunning, wiliness; that doesn’t seem to be his bag. If he is up against someone prepared to unsettle him he might be a little bit vulnerable.”