F1 news: Lewis Hamilton controls F1 title's fate - Rivals Red Bull's HUGE claim
LEWIS HAMILTON will decide the destination of the F1 Drivers’ Championship depending on how quick he wants to drive, Christian Horner has claimed.
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The Mercedes star is the favourite to retain his title and claim a fifth career success with the Silver Arrows seemingly ahead of the pack once again in 2018 despite strong competition from Red Bull and Ferrari.
The 33-year-old was convincingly quicker than any of his rivals in the first practice session of the Australian Grand Prix in the early hours of Friday morning, albeit on the fastest tyre compound.
And speaking after FP1, Red Bull chief Horner believes Hamilton can set the benchmark this season - although did not rule out the chances of his team or Ferrari catching Mercedes up over the course of the calendar.
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You’ve got to say that Mercedes look in great shape and I guess it depends on how fast Lewis wants to go.
“You’ve got to say that Mercedes look in great shape and I guess it depends on how fast Lewis wants to go,” Horner told journalists.
“It’s a long season, form will vary from race-to-race. 21 races is a gruelling calendar this year.
“By the time we end up in Abu Dhabi in November it’ll be fascinating to see how teams have developed during the course of the year.
“The cars are effectively prototypes at each Grand Prix.
“It’s really the rate of development between now and November that will dictate the outcome of performance over the course of the season.”
The season officially begins on Sunday when the drivers race through the chequered flag for the first time of the new campaign.
Hamilton will hope to give himself the best chance of finishing first by topping Saturday's qualifying to start in pole position.
The four-time world champion is looking for just a third career win at Melbourne's Albert Park circuit.