“SUPER-CLOSE BATTLES” WITH VERSTAPPEN AND LECLERC: HAMILTON REVEALS WHAT F1 ARE MISSING

Lewis Hamilton says he would trade Mercedes’ dominance for “super-close battles” with Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, who he hopes can start to challenge him again as soon as possible.

But the six-time F1 champion (Hamilton) insists he would love to be fighting wheel-to-wheel with the Red Bull (Verstappen) and Ferrari (Leclerc)drivers, as he did last season.

“Honestly, look, I’m a through-and-through racer at heart,” said Hamilton. “I’ve grown up – particularly when you’re in karting – you’ve got the wheel-to-wheel racing, that’s what has always excited me, and that’s what gets me up in the morning.

“This is not the championship fight I would have hoped for. I’d much, much prefer to be having a super-close battle with these two [Verstappen and Leclerc] because that’s what gets me going.

“I think I’m still putting in the laps that are required but it’s not a close battle with Max in qualifying and the same with Charles.”

“I really, really hope that in future it’s closer,” added Hamilton. “It’s rules. Ultimately every team is given rules and at the end of the day we’ve just done an exceptional job collectively and you can’t fault my team for that. That’s not our fault.

“You have to look at the people that run the sport doing a better job moving forwards, I would say, ruling-wise. I think they’re showing some signs… I think Ross [Brawn, F1 managing director] is showing us a car for the future that’s going to have us all closer.

“Hopefully it’s not as slow as a GP2 car, and then hopefully we’ll get some more-like karting races in the future.”

VERSTAPPEN LECLERC HAMILTON REVEALS VERSTAPPEN LECLERC HAMILTON REVEALS

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