Damon Hill told Sky Sports News Lewis Hamilton will bounce back from his F1 heartbreak and win a world title.
Lewis will still win it, vows last British F1 champion
Have your say |
Race report
Damon Hill has backed Lewis Hamilton to recover from his Formula One heartbreak and rule the world.
The British sensation missed out on the world title in his first season by just a solitary point after gearbox problems left him languishing in seventh place at the Brazilian GP at Interlagos.
Even when BMW Sauber and Williams were cleared of technical irregularities - a decision which
McLaren are appealing against - Hamilton was still left short of the fifth place that would have given him the title.
But Hill, world champion in 1996, believes it won't be long before Hamilton becomes the latest Brit to rule the world.
"I think we should be very proud of Lewis Hamilton," he told
Sky Sports News.
"I think in his first season he's done way more than anybody could've predicted. The talent is there and he copes with adversity.
"I promise you he will come back from this and he'll be saying 'I'm going to win next year'."
Hill admitted that he was gripped by the all-or-nothing finale which began with Hamilton, McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso and Raikonnen all capable of becoming world champion.
He says it was good for the sport, but will have little trouble putting patriotism before his passion for the sport should Hamilton find himself challenging again next year.
"I have mixed feelings," he said. "I'm a fan of Formula One. I love to see racing, I love to see a title showdown and if it goes to the end of the season, you do get more of an impact.
"But I would like to see Lewis win the championship with a healthy margin!"
