F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Hamilton: I’ve never needed a team-mate to push me

MercedesLewis Hamilton says he has never needed a team-mate to find the motivation to push himself but admits “the better the driver the better it is for me”.

After four seasons spent doing battle with Nico Rosberg, the Briton will have a new team-mate in 2017 following the reigning world champion’s shock decision to withdraw for the sport on Friday.

“I does not matter who they put alongside me, I’m here to race,” Hamilton said when asked about who he would like to see in the other Mercedes car next year.

“I’ve never needed a team-mate to be able to push me but obviously the better the driver, the better it is for me when I finish ahead of him.

“You need someone with good values to come in and represent the team in a positive way, good work ethics and consistency so we can challenge for the Constructors’ championship.

“You have got Daniel [Ricciardo] and [Max] Verstappen, very consistent, so in terms of challenging for the Constructors’ title, which is the team’s first goal, we need to make sure we have someone equally consistent.”

Hamilton adds that he would be happy to give his thoughts to the team while it is assessing potential candidates.

“If they want to talk to me about it, they can. Ultimately that’s someone I will have to work well within the team.

“There will be stronger characters who will be able to deal with the competition and other drivers who will take alternative routes to be able deal with it.

“There will be a good candidate out there.

“I am interested to see who would want to be my team-mate.”

Before Rosberg, Hamilton partnered Fernando Alonso, Heikki Kovalainen, and Jenson Button at McLaren, with the first relationship infamously going up in flames in 2007.

Technical analysis - Abu Dhabi

Scene at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Quotes of the week

DRIVER RATINGS: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

OPINION: A worthy champion

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

Sebastian Montoya steps up to Formula 2 with Prema

Sebastian Montoya, the 19-year-old son of former Formula 1 star Juan Pablo Montoya, is set…

12 hours ago

Sauber finds its ‘Northern Star’ under Binotto’s leadership

When former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto took on the role of Chief Operating Officer…

13 hours ago

Leclerc hails a season ‘without missed opportunities' in 2024

Charles Leclerc concluded the 2024 F1 season with a sense of satisfaction, the Ferrari driver…

15 hours ago

Coulthard sounds alarm over FIA president’s rift with F1 drivers

Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has voiced his dismay at FIA president Mohammed Ben…

16 hours ago

The rapid rise and fall of Super Aguri in F1

Super Aguri's application to join Formula 1 became a reality on this day in 2005,…

18 hours ago

Ferrari's 2024 Season: Marked improvement and a fight to the finish

Ferrari roared back into contention in 2024 to deliver their strongest season in years, thanks…

19 hours ago