Hamilton and Button tension could boil over, warns Hill
THE friendly rivalry between McLaren team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button could “boil over” at this weekend’s British Grand Prix, according to Damon Hill.
Hamilton and Button stand first and second in the drivers’ championship with two wins apiece and will be desperate for victory in front of their home crowd at Silverstone.
And Hill, president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, believes it’s only a matter of time before the pressure takes its toll on the Brits as the title race continues to hot up.
“It’s just been on simmer so far and it will start to boil over,” said Hill, the 1996 champion. “Between the two British drivers in possibly the best car you will have a very close and fascinating battle. Jenson will not be letting Lewis get away with anything. Your closest, most significant competitor, is your team-mate and when you’ve got a team-mate as good as Jenson then it’s not a foregone conclusion.
“This could be the start of the rest of the season. Traditionally Silverstone is smack in the middle of the summer, smack in the middle of the season, the preliminaries are over and from now on the clock is definitely ticking. There is only room for one guy.”
McLaren have had their share of tumultuous driver relationships in the past, notably the famous rift between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna in the 1980s and the battle between Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, which forced Alonso to quit in 2007.
STANDINGS | DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 127pts
2. Jenson Button (McLaren) 121
3. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) 115
4. Mark Webber (Red Bull) 103
5. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 98