F1 champion hands Hamilton time with 'massive' campaign ahead

Lewis Hamilton has had a season with fewer ups than downs in his debut campaign for Ferrari.

The Brit’s former teammate, Button, believes this is a year when Hamilton needs to adapt.

"We’ve seen some brilliance through the year. I take it all the way back to the Shanghai sprint, which was very impressive," the 2009 world champion said, referring to Hamilton winning Ferrari’s first-ever sprint race in China.

He continued: "It’s not consistent enough through the year for him to have that confidence in the car.

"With the new regulation change, which is massive for next year, that’s when we’re going to see either Lewis at his best, or a Lewis that’s maybe going to walk away," Button concluded.

The seven-time world champion was on pace to finish fifth last Sunday.

However, because of a faulty brake, the Briton crossed the finish line seventh, and lost a further position to Fernando Alonso after receiving a five-second time penalty.

Hamilton has yet to achieve a Grand Prix podium with the Scuderia this season, despite his sprint victory in China and a top-three finish at the Miami sprint.

Aiming to achieve his first podium, he will have a good chance to do so at the Circuit of the Americas, which hosts the next F1 weekend.

Not only does Hamilton have a strong track record at the circuit, but Ferrari also claimed an impressive one-two finish there last season.

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