Lewis Hamilton accepts there could be four groups battling for the big showdown next season. The Mercedes driver, who won his fourth title in 2017, said McLaren could join Ferrari and Red Bull as contenders. “McLaren will have Renault engines, then we may see four teams fighting for the championship,” he said.
“Red Bull will be quicker (than this year) and Ferrari will be fast. We can’t stand still. We have to keep moving forwards.”
Hamilton said he trusted McLaren’s Fernando Alonso was one of the four most grounded drivers in F1 alongside himself, his 2017 title match Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, and said he “it would astonish” if all were in dispute in 2018.
Hamilton, 32, said he was certain Mercedes would have the capacity to proceed as one of the main groups. He said he touches base toward the begin of each season trusting he can win the title.
“I have the same mindset now for next year,” he said. “When I’m training and preparing for a new season, I firmly believe that we can be contenders for the next championship.
“It may turn out to be not possible, but you have to have that mindset.
“If you go in with expectations of finishing fifth, it’s not going to work. You’ve got to gear yourself up to win.”
“I go to the same place in the mountains every year,” he said. “I have my dogs, I’m in the snow, and it’s very quiet and peaceful there.
“I spend most of the day sitting by the fireplace. We go skiing, watch some movies and catch up with some TV series.
“I’ve never even seen any of Game of Thrones. My friends and especially my brother are huge fans, and I think I’m going to get into it in the winter.”
