“HAMILTON TAUGHT VERSTAPPEN A LESSON”

It might be one of his best, certainly one of his hardest and it delivered for Formula One the start to a season the sport craved.

Despite winning the season-opening grand prix in Bahrain, the first time world champion Lewis Hamilton has won the first race since 2015, Mercedes is as much of an underdog as it’s ever been in the V6 turbo-hybrid era.

Somewhat surprisingly, the Italian media is heaping strong praise on Lewis Hamilton after his spectacular drive at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton impressed everyone this Sunday, when he held off Max Verstappen in a slower car and on older tyres, to win the Bahrain Grand Prix. Strong praise for his stellar drive is coming from Italy, somewhat surprisingly, as it’s a country that traditionally is not tremendously supportive of the Briton, mostly because he has been one of Ferrari’s biggest rivals for most of his career.

“The deciding moment of the race took place four laps before the end when Max passed Hamilton,” La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote.

“He went off the track and had to give up his place, but there was controversy surrounding the decision taken by the FIA.

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“Red Bull had the better car, but it was Hamilton who took the win. He made the difference in the last stint. That shows that Hamilton doesn’t just win when everything is handed to him.

“Mercedes turned the situation around, because it was clear they weren’t as strong but still managed to win. Hamilton therefore remains the maestro.

“The battle that Verstappen fought does not take anything away from the masterpiece that Hamilton delivered.

“Strategically the Germans did a great job of putting Red Bull and Verstappen under pressure. Hamilton did a great job by driving for an incredibly long time on the last set of tyres.

“In doing so, the master still trumped Verstappen.”

Sky Sport Italia also praised Hamilton’s performance: “Hamilton delivered a masterpiece in Bahrain, victory once again went to the seven-time world championship who fought a great battle with Verstappen”.

La Repubblica certainly didn’t hold back: “He brought Mercedes back to the top of the podium and taught Verstappen a lesson”.

It’s nice to see that our Italian colleagues appreciate a good drive, even when it comes from a fierce rival

HAMILTON TAUGHT VERSTAPPEN A LESSON HAMILTON TAUGHT VERSTAPPEN A LESSON

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