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Ferrari would have won with Hamilton

Ferrari "would have won" with Hamilton

04-12-2018 17:19
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Bobby Vincent

Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezmolo believes Ferrari would have won the 2018 constructors' championship if they had Lewis Hamilton in their ranks.

Hamilton won his fifth world championship and Mercedes asserted their dominance yet again as the constructors' champions.

"This year Hamilton made the difference in his best season since his debut," Montezemolo said to Rai Radio. "He has had some moments of weakness and crisis, but this year with Ferrari he would have won. I say that not to belittle Vettel, who has every opportunity to rebuild with a competitive car."

Sebastian Vettel again lost out to Hamilton this season, despite a promising first half of the season for the four-time world champion.

But, Montezemolo has said that Ferrari losing the title was not all Vettel's fault.

"This Ferrari is a very different Ferrari to the one I left in October 2014, in terms of men and mentality," he added. "Ferrari did a good car this year, which in some situations was even better than Mercedes. But the final part was missing.

"Vettel made some decisive mistakes, but for the world championship, you have to do everything to keep him up. He is a driver of the highest order and always close to the team.

"In frustration, he must be supported, even more so with the arrival of a very strong boy (Charles Leclerc) with a great future. Schumacher also made mistakes in the first days, but it is always important to speak clearly in the locker room and support the team in public."