Lewis Hamilton "too preoccupied" earlier in the season - Bas Leinders

  • Published on 26 Nov 2016 14:19
  • comments 0
  • By: Dominik Wilde

Ex Formula One tester Bas Leinders thinks Lewis Hamilton lost focus earlier in the season.

Hamilton trails Nico Rosberg as F1 enters it's final round, and despite Hamilton's mechanical issues earlier in the year, former Minardi man Leinders said Rosberg would "definitely" deserve the championship.

"Critics might say that he has only become champion through Hamilton's misfortune, but that's not true," he told the Belgian source Sporza.

"Okay, Hamilton had mechanical failures but so did Rosberg.

"It is more about how Hamilton tackled his season. In the middle of the season he was too preoccupied with his friends in LA and Hollywood," said the Belgian. "That certainly had an impact."

Leinders dismissed the idea that Hamilton was the best driver of 2016.

"Hamilton was not the best driver of the season," he insisted. "It was Max Verstappen. What he has done was phenomenal.

"If he gets into the right car, he will certainly be world champion."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 13:43

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 13:43

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 3,085
  • Podiums 114
  • Grand Prix 212
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (27)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar