Confidence in Hamilton's statements: 'Then he's capable of it'

Lewis Hamilton will start a new Formula 1 season in a week and a half. After last season's painful defeat in Abu Dhabi, the Briton will be all too eager to take the world title. Nigel Mansell is confident that this will happen, he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Whereas the Briton won the world championship no less than seven times, last year he had a difficult time due to the opposition of Max Verstappen. Prior to the final race, both drivers were tied in terms of points, so everything depended on the final Grand Prix. The Dutchman eventually managed to take the victory.

Hamilton then let nothing be heard of himself for two months, but in February he returned to the spotlight. The Brit already showed in Barcelona that he is ready for the new season and also has the coming days in Bahrain to prepare optimally. He indicated earlier that he expects to fight for the world title again.

Mansell is confident in those words. "Verstappen is definitely a worthy world champion," the former Formula 1 driver stated, expecting Hamilton to return next season. "When he says he can do better, he is capable of doing so. He's going to work hard to put everything right."