Lewis Hamilton ‘feels for the fans’ as Max Verstappen dominates ahead of his chance to win first title at Singapore GP

“For you as an individual it’s fantastic, but for the actual sport it’s not spectacular,” Lewis Hamilton said as Max Verstappen got his chance to win his first title at the Singapore GP. , Watch the whole weekend live on Sky Sports F1, with Friday practice coverage starting at 10:30am

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Speaking ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton said he hopes for the championship closer in 2023.

Lewis Hamilton says he “feels for the fans” amid Max Verstappen’s dominance of the 2022 Formula 1 season and underscores his hopes for changes to produce a championship close more next year..

Verstappen to Singapore GP this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1with his first chance to defend his driver’s title – and the earliest crown in 20 years.

The Dutchman’s dominance, with 11 wins out of 16 races and a massive 116-point buffer for nearest challenger Charles Leclerc, is a far cry from last year when Verstappen went up against Hamilton all the way down to the final lap. controversial in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

“Definitely, I feel for the fans,” Hamilton, who finished sixth in the championship, said of this season’s title race.

“For everyone and even for us last year, it was stressful for everyone and so it’s never great when the season ends early.”

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Lewis Hamilton hopes Mercedes can compete this weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix. Mercedes’ record at the track hasn’t been good but Hamilton hopes that will change this weekend once it’s re-established.

Five of Hamilton’s record seven equalizer championships have been settled before the final race of the season and the Briton admits those are also “not pretty” for F1.

“When I go through the early finish in places like Mexico – for you as an individual it’s amazing, but for the actual sport it’s not spectacular,” Hamilton said.

“So I’m really grateful to have 2008 down exactly 17 seconds, and obviously last year was pretty much the same. So let’s hope for a little better in the future. “

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Sky F1’s Natalie Pinkham and Martin Brundle head to the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Hamilton wants ‘closer’ to 2023 | Don’t think about the title at all

Hamilton, who has never failed to win an F1 race in his 15 seasons so far, is still awaiting the first of 2022 in an inferior Mercedes but insists he is still “really excited to try”. challenge “crack the code”.

However, he is hopeful for changes next year after a sweeping overhaul in 2022 – which has led to closer racing and more overtaking opportunities – has indeed resulted in Red Bull and Verstappen dominate.

“It didn’t achieve what it was supposed to achieve, so we failed to do that,” Hamilton said. Sports sky. “When you fail once you try again, and if you fail a second time, you keep trying.

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Despite being on track to win a championship in Singapore, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is refusing to get ahead in his quest for a second world title.

“I hope that there will be more changes to try to bring all the teams closer together and create better equality in the racing space. I hope we can all be closer.

“Red Bull walked away with it this year, they did a great job.”

Verstappen winning the title – at least this weekend – is unlikely, as he must win the race and be 22 points ahead of Leclerc, while he also needs Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to finish on the podium.

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Sky F1’s Anthony Davidson looks at the Marina Bay Street Circuit ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.

He said Sports sky he “didn’t really” think about taking the title at Marina Bay, the first of six races to finish the season.

“We were just trying to have a good weekend,” Verstappen said. “To win here would be great, but it’s not something I’m really thinking about.”

Verstappen is on track for a second crown after the much-anticipated challenger from Ferrari and Charles Leclerc was quickly dropped.

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Williams’ driver Alex Albon admitted he was a bit surprised to have recovered in time for the Singapore Grand Prix after suffering an appendicitis.

“In a way, I want them to keep fighting,” Verstappen added. “From my side, of course it’s also nice to win it more calmly.

But I think the good thing to see is that they’ve been very competitive this year compared to a few years ago, and I think that’s what F1 needs.

“I have to say last year I always started like a one or two, this year I started like that again and I still win races, so they’re really rewarding too.”

Watch the spectacular light-filled Singapore GP live on Sky Sports F1 as Max Verstappen gets his first chance to win the title. The race starts at 1pm on Sunday, with gatherings from 11:30am. Download Sky Sports F1.