Sainz thinks Hamilton the stand-out driver so far this season
May 5 - Lewis Hamilton is already emerging as the standout driver of the 2021 season, according to Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz.
This year's title battle is being billed as a head-to-head between the seven time world champion and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
"The truth is that I was surprised how easily Hamilton passed Verstappen and Bottas in Portugal," Spaniard Sainz told El Mundo Deportivo newspaper.
"To overtake like that means you are either much faster or you're doing something special, so I think he is at a very, very high level," he added.
"The Mercedes is not faster than the Red Bull now, so the ability to go as fast in the races has been surprising."
Sainz thinks Hamilton has even been more impressive than any other driver so far in 2021.
"I have not thought about it or analysed it much, but if I have to say someone who is doing particularly well now, it is Hamilton," he said.
Former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi, however, thinks Hamilton is continuing to enjoy sitting at the wheel of the best car in Formula 1.
"I expected more from Red Bull Racing," the former Red Bull driver told Italy's Autosprint.
"In the first two grands prix it seemed as if it was the car to beat, but Portugal showed that Mercedes still has something in hand."
Liuzzi, now 40, also thinks Hamilton is not at all worried about the threat posed by his teammate Valtteri Bottas - even if the Finn was on pole at Portimao.
"Hamilton knows very well that Verstappen is his title rival, not Bottas," said the Italian. "That's why he is not so worried about the Finn's pace over one lap.
"Lewis knows that he has to compete one-on-one with Verstappen and so he plays that strategically," Liuzzi added.
"I think we are going to get a much clearer picture in Barcelona. We know that the Spanish circuit is an excellent benchmark for the teams, which is why it has been the test circuit for the sport for years," he said.
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Barcelona is the F1 test circuit because the weather is reasonably acceptable, the track is accessible, the layout is quite safe with various challenges and the host is willing to pay a bit of $$$. It is also a boring place to race...way too vanilla.
Oops, I forgot. HAM is simply on his game in the best car. He is a worthy WDC and will not be denied #8. Bet on it.
Always worth listening to a top current f1 driver. Best thing about it all is Hamilton is not in the best car.
"To overtake like that means you are either much faster or you're doing something special, so I think he is at a very, very high level," he added.
"The Mercedes is not faster than the Red Bull now, so the ability to go as fast in the races has been surprising."
Now u see, it's an objective point of view like this from a decent current driver that I treasure. Cut through the best car BS and envious excuses and just call a spade...a spade. You gotta love it. Brilliant.
As to Liuzzi, "Mercedes still has something in hand" alright. It's called Lewis Hamilton Lol. I don't even remember this guy.
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