Hill: Hamilton 'instinctive' speed may have started to leave him

Damon Hill questions whether Lewis Hamilton's "instinctive, unconscious speed" has started to wane, leaving the seven-time world champion exposed to the rise to prominence of his Mercedes teammate George Russell.

In recent seasons, pundits have questioned whether Hamilton would be better inspired riding off into the sunset and enjoying a plush retirement rather than race on beyond his peak.

But so far, the seven-time world champion - now aged 38 - appears determined to remain on the grid and ready to sign a new contract with Mercedes.

However, there is no denying that Russell is proving a formidable adversary in the Mercedes camp to the Briton.

But Hill notes the very different positions in which the two drivers find themselves in their career, with Hamilton having nothing to prove, contrary to his talented teammate.

"You have to be aware of rising forces or empires," Hill explained on the latest F1 Nation podcast.

"George has to work very hard to make himself a valued asset of the team, which he’s doing. He has to do the hard work. Lewis doesn’t have to.

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"They know what they’ve got with Lewis – they know, given half a chance, he’ll be back on top form and can deliver extraordinary races.

"They know George can do that too, but he’s yet to prove it.

"Lewis is very good at sussing this out – he’ll be thinking: ‘I’ll let you do the hard work, George, because it’s exhausting’.

"As president of the GPDA he’s got a big workload, George. Lewis’ strategy is to remove distractions and leave time for downtime.

"Even with Valtteri Bottas, Lewis took a relaxed approach to the start of seasons. He lets things unfold and, eventually when he sees an opportunity, he steps on the gas and disappears into the distance."

However, there will be no stopping Russell's progress and rise to prominence, with the older driver inevitably giving way to the younger talent as has often been the case in Formula 1 historically argues Hill.

"Niki Lauda had Alain Prost arrive," added the 1996 F1 world champion. "When the older, experienced driver is faced by the speed of a young arrival, they can get depressed about it or devote their energy to making sure the outcome in the race is the thing that matters.

"They may give up a bit in qualifying. In their late-30s they can no longer do those transcendental laps. They focus on the laps.

"I remember, for example, I tested a motorbike at 20 years old. I flew round the track.

"As you get older, maybe you’ve had crashes, your brain says: ‘I need to be more circumspect’.

"George is super quick and is reveling in the early part of his career. I don’t know if Lewis has acknowledged that he can’t match that. I’m sure he will do, eventually.

"It’s possible that the instinctive, unconscious speed has started to leave him."

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