Motoring News

McLaren-Mercedes’ championship winning driver Lewis Hamilton has been tipped to remain at the top of the Formula One tree again this year by one of the most knowledgeable people in the sport.

Max Mosley, president of motorsport’s governing body the FIA, said if he was given money to bet on a driver for this year’s title, he wouldn’t look far beyond reigning champion Hamilton.

The British ace’s McLaren-Mercedes car will wear the prestigious number one on its nose when the cars line up on the grid this year after Hamilton pipped Brazilian Felipe Massa to the title by a single point in last year’s championship – not clinching the title until the last corner of the last race.

And that grit and determination – together with the fact he only lost out on the title by a single point in 2007, his rookie year in Formula One – means Mosley thinks it will be tough for anyone to catch the Briton.

But Mosley also pointed out there are plenty of other good drivers who will be competing for the title.

"It might be someone unexpected like [BMW Sauber driver Robert] Kubica or [Renault's Fernando] Alonso," he added.

Last month, Formula One commercial chief Bernie Ecclestone said he was hoping Ferrari’s Massa could come back from last year’s final day disappointment and claim the crown this season.

Written by Paul Jarvis