LEWIS HAMILTON has been told: don’t get angry, get even.
And he is going to be a ‘force of nature’ in the new season.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will resume their rivalry this weekend
That is according to Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle – who is calling on Hamilton to keep his cool and win a record-breaking eighth world championship.
The Brit – who is planning to change his name to incorporate his mum’s surname Larbalestier – missed out last year in heart-wrenching circumstancing.
Race director Michael Masi ignored the safety-car rules to allow a last-lap showdown which Max Verstappen won.
Hamilton went on a two-month social media silence but quashed any suggestions of quitting by returning to Mercedes ready to claim his crown back.
And with the new Formula One season getting underway in Bahrain this Sunday, Brundle’s message to Hamilton is clear.
He said: “It’s don’t get angry – get even!
“I can understand why he went on the missing list for a while on social media but I do think he’s back, he’s 37 years old but from what I saw of his driving last year, he was driving as well as I’ve ever seen him.
“Clearly fitness is not an issue, the drivers don’t get so many big shunts these days with the knocks on the head.
“He is physically in great shape and I think he’ll be a force of nature when he comes back.”
Hamilton will be joined in the Silver Arrows garage by George Russell this season with the fellow Englishman making the step up from his loan spell at Williams.
And although he has bags of talent, Brundle warned Russell he cannot afford any off days with Mercedes.
The former driver and Sky pundit added: “The pressure will be intense. For me, it’s like a bright light on a flower, intense heat on a flower. Some flowers flourish, some wilt and die.
“I think George has got the confidence to handle it, he’s certainly got the talent and the feel and a gift behind the wheel of a racing car, I have no doubt about that.
“I think the biggest challenge is turning up every weekend and being absolutely on it with you’re a-game.
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“Because that’s what Lewis and the champions do, the championship contenders just keep turning up and delivering, that will be the hardest thing for him.
“You can have a bit of an off weekend in a Williams at the back of the grid, you can’t in a Mercedes in the front of the grid.”
Together Hamilton and Russell will be aiming to retain the constructors’ championship in their controversial new car.
However, Red Bull’s Verstappen is the drivers’ winner and shows no signs of slowing down – or changing his method.
Brundle continued: “I think his style is his style, the others are going to have to change their style around him.
“If you listen to Esteban Ocon who raced against him in junior racing and others in karting, it’s quite clearly the MO (modus operandi) of MV of how he goes about his racing – he’s aggressive!
“I don’t think there’s an asterisk against Max’s Championship. It was over 22 races, it was really unfortunate what happened in the end.
“It was really sad. It upset a lot of people, not just Lewis fans.
“I think they should publish the report as to what happened. Mistakes were made on the day, but I don’t see malice.”
The pressure will be on George Russell to deliver the goods for Mercedes
Martin Brundle is expecting big things from Hamilton again this season
