Former world champion Damon Hill says Lewis Hamilton is not being challenged and fears his fellow English driver’s record-breaking run will be judged on the recent dearth of serious competition in Formula One.
Hamilton has raced to a world record 92 career victories and heads into this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola on the verge of equalling Michael Schumacher’s all-time haul of seven world championships.
“There is a risk that Lewis’ achievements will be measured against the intensity of his competition,” 1996 world champion Hill told the PA news agency.
“Lewis had to fight hard against (former teammate) Nico Rosberg but he pretty much had the upper hand on him most of the time.
“(Teammate) Valtteri (Bottas) is doing a solid job but he cannot keep up with Lewis during the races.
“Mercedes have totally dominated this era and Lewis is not being challenged.
“He demolishes everyone but we are missing the chance to see the best of him because if he had to fight hard, that is when you see the great drivers shine.
“You cannot keep saying, ‘look at the king’s lovely new coat’ over and over again.”
Hill has called for an urgent overhaul of the sport’s governance, taking power away from the teams to ensure the best drivers are in the best machinery.
The 60-year-old continued: “People wanted to see Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in the same team, Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet in the same team and now they want to see Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in the same team.
“That is F1’s version of a boxing prize fight.
“If we cannot get the teams to be equal then you must have these drivers in the same team and generate a show. But we have gone through a period where teams have being frightened of putting two stallions in the same stable.”
“Mercedes want to keep Lewis sweet. He is the key to everything. He is so talented, he brings everything to the team, and the team are not going to want to upset him.
“So how do you create a system whereby it makes no difference to Mercedes if they have another driver who is a rival to Lewis?
“Let’s say Max finishes second in the championship, perhaps he should then have the opportunity to transfer himself into the Mercedes team? Or maybe the fans should be involved, saying we will pick the showdown we want to see.
“It needs imagination, it needs vision and not simply for the teams to have a hold on the drivers.”