Lewis Hamilton's motivation in aiming to win a record eighth Formula 1 drivers championship title could give him the edge over his rivals at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend, according to Martin Brundle.
The Briton has endured a difficult start to the 2022 season as he aims to challenge reigning champion Max Verstappen, finishing third in the curtain raiser in Bahrain and a lowly 10th at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah a fortnight ago. His Mercedes has struggled to find pace amid the introduction of new budget caps and drastic changes to car design for 2022, with porpoising an ongoing issue for the team.
It appears that Ferrari and Red Bull are the constructors best positioned to challenge for the title, with Charles Leclerc and Verstappen duelling at the front in both races. But even Red Bull have suffered issues with reliability after a double retirement in the season opener.
But Hamilton, who has won 103 races in his career - the most by any driver in the history of the sport - will be hoping to end his seven-year drought in Melbourne after last winning at Albert Park back in 2015. And former driver-turned-commentator Brundle thinks the 37-year-old cannot be written off so early in the season despite a slow start.
“The Melbourne Grand Prix is historically the season-opener, but will this weekend kick off a massive day on Sky Sports. It will be a high-octane affair, with the resurgence of Ferrari seeing no signs of slowing down," Brundle said, speaking ahead of Sky Sports’ Sunday Special.
"Following last season’s nail-biting rivalry between Mercedes and Red Bull, it’s great have even more names in the mix with [Charles] Leclerc and [Carlos] Sainz leading from the front for the Italian manufacturer. It’s been a slow start so far for Hamilton this season, but don’t write him off yet as he still looks to win a record-breaking eight world-title”.
Have Your Say! Will Lewis Hamilton challenge for the F1 drivers' championship in 2022? Comment below.
Hamilton lost out on the title to Verstappen last season on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after a highly contentious decision from then FIA race director Michael Masi to allow cars to un-lap themselves and bring in the safety car one lap before it should have been. The Australian has since been removed from the role as F1's lead race director, with the FIA admitting "human error" was to blame for the incident that saw the title snatched from Hamilton's grasp.
It looked uncertain that the Briton would return to the sport after boycotting social media over the winter months to take some time away from the limelight. But Mercedes announced his return in February ahead of testing, with new team-mate George Russell completing an all-British lineup for the campaign.
Mercedes CEO and team principal Toto Wolff underlined their problems with the development of their car, writing off their chances of finding extra pace this weekend, despite Brundle's optimism about Hamilton's revival: "There won't be a magic fix for this next race weekend. We are in a learning race and the first two weekends have shown we still have plenty to learn," he said. "At the moment, our track performance is not meeting our own expectations, but everyone at Brackley and Brixworth is focused on understanding the problems and finding the right solutions.”
Martin Brundle was speaking ahead of Sky Sports’ Sunday Special.
Sky Sports’ Sunday Special is the ultimate day for sports fans with 18 hours of epic live action. Sky Sports has teamed up with sports scientist, John Mulcahy to produce the ultimate Survival Guide ensuring fans don’t miss a minute of the live action.
Starting at 6am with the Australian GP and ending after midnight on the glorious greens of Augusta – with a Man City v Liverpool title-decider sandwiched in between – planning for this day for back-to-back iconic sporting moments will be crucial. With this expert advice, viewers can rest easy knowing they can stay the course and take in all the action.
The seven tips to survive Sky Sports’ Sunday Special:
1) Planning
Behind all great performances is a great plan – every team and athlete will have one for Sunday, and TV viewers can do the same. When people experience positive social interactions, they are more likely to feel a sense of belonging. Picking the right teammates for Sunday is vital to enjoy those big sporting moments together.
TOP TIP: Pre-empt when distractions will occur and factor those in around the action. Will you need to take the dog for a walk or get a few chores done? Make sure you strategically allocate time in advance to avoid interruption, and involve viewing partners - friends or family – in all your planning.
2) Environment
Keeping your concentration will be key to enjoying the Sunday Special as the excitement of a full day of live sport can take its toll – a risk as the final putts are holed at Augusta National in the early morning!
TOP TIP: It’s vital you make sure the front room remains relatively cool (approx 18 °C) and opening windows at least once an hour is advised.
3) Sleep Planning
Studies show that fewer than eight hours sleep can result in up to a 10% decrease in focus. Getting a solid rest is essential to maximising your chances of watching the Sunday Special in its entirety and not missing a key moment.
TOP TIP: Make sure it’s lights out one hour earlier on the days leading up to Sunday, so you don’t miss the start of the Melbourne GP. Likewise push bedtime back an hour if you want to see the conclusion of The Masters
4) Nutrition
The key is to eat a combination of high quality carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. This will allow energy to be released evenly over a period of hours meaning you feel fuller for longer. No unnecessary trips to the kitchen.
TOP TIP: Avoid fried food and all high-sugar snacks, which can result in a sugar-crash.
5) Hydration
Staying hydrated is a must if you are to maintain concentration and focus; drink between 2 and 2.5 litres of fluids.
TOP TIP: Too much alcohol is a no-go. Alcohol is a depressant, which increases your chances of falling asleep as the evening goes on.
6) Exercise and Activity
The action during the Sunday Special will surely keep you jumping out of your seat but remember to stand regularly throughout the day to fend off the drowsiness and keep your blood circulation pumping.
TOP TIP – Make sure you stand up regularly, our expert recommends once an hour.
7) Stress and Relaxation
Research carried out at the University of Oxford has shown a spike in the stress hormone cortisol amongst some football fans while they watch their team. One solution to subduing those stress levels is yoga, which is scientifically proven to reduce cortisol levels... go on, give it a go
TOP TIP – Try 5-10 minutes of gentle stretching at periods throughout the day to reduce stress.
