David Croft says championship fight is taking its toll on Hamilton

David Croft believes Lewis Hamilton isn't running at 100% after title fight with rival Sebastian Vettel is burning him out. The Brit has had to work harder this year with Vettel constantly breathing down his neck.

The Sky Sports lead commentator was in full praise for the talents he has demonstrated so far in 2018. In his interim report, Crofty sums up his season so far.

"I do not think he is one hundred per cent, but he is now first and has performed incredibly a few times. In Germany, he showed that he never gave up when nobody was driving better than he was at that moment.

In addition, there are Lewis' great qualifying laps, such as at Silverstone. It was a pleasure to see, and he shuddered visibly afterwards and nobody wanted to speak, so hard he put himself in."

Croft insists the summer break comes at the right time for Hamilton despite winning the previous two races. He suggests the rest will be more important than the momentum he has gathered.

"The toll that demands the constant pressure of fighting for a world title is immense, and at times it seems to draw the energy from Lewis. Sometimes I thought: this is not the Lewis we know. He really seemed like a few weeks away from the circuit. Usually, he comes back stronger again in the second half of the season," Croft added.