F1 News: Insider Claims Mercedes "Owe Lewis Hamilton The Respect He Deserves" In Final Year

Lewis Hamilton embarks on his final season with Mercedes, marking the culmination of one of the most prosperous partnerships between a driver and a team in Formula 1.

As Lewis Hamilton looks ahead at his last season with Mercedes, Sky F1 presenter Simon Lazenby suggested that the Brackley outfit owes him everything, hinting at the success the team witnessed since the Hybrid era ensued in Formula 1 in 2014. 

Key Takeaways:

• Lewis Hamilton is entering his final season with Mercedes, a team with which he has won six world titles since their partnership began in 2013.
• Hamilton's achievements include securing 82 race wins, contributing to 65.6% of Mercedes' overall victories in the past decade, making it one of the most successful driver-team associations in Formula 1 history.
• Sky F1 presenter Simon Lazenby suggests that Mercedes owes Hamilton everything, emphasizing that the team should recognize and treat him with the respect he deserves during his remaining time with the team.

Hamilton's partnership with Mercedes started in 2013, and since then, he won six championships and secured 82 race wins until today. Thus, he accounts for 65.6% of the team's overall victories in the past decade, marking the most successful partnership in the history of Formula 1.

Lazenby suggests that Hamilton was one of the best things to happen to Mercedes and that another championship win cannot be ruled out this year if the team offers him a potent car. Speaking on the Sky F1 podcast, he said:

"I think the thing is with Lewis, it's an exceptional case, isn't it?

"At the end of the day, it's Lewis. And Lewis has brought everything to Mercedes.

"Therefore, they kind of do owe him a little bit. I think they owe him everything really. And they probably owe him the respect that he deserves to treat him like the great champion that he is for the time that he has remaining at Mercedes.

"I don't think it's going to be emotion, I don't think it's going to be anything to do with that. It's about he'll get through the season, he'll know early on whether he's got a car to compete for the championship and I think that could be the key. If he does, they'll have to rally round whoever's the best driver again."

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