Prost: Hamilton can seriously consider the title

The four-time F1 world champion Alain Prost believes that Lewis Hamilton will emerge victorious this year due to the absence of traction control because of his phenomenal talent.

Hamilton made a sensational start to the season with McLaren in 2007 before losing the championship by just one point. The winner was Kimi Räikkönen for Ferrari, who was the least well-placed of Hamilton and Alonso to win the title.

The so-called driver aids like traction control were banned in 2008. Prost believes that this will only favor Hamilton even more, allowing him to shine.

« This year, electronic aids will disappear and life will be more difficult for the drivers, » Prost said to Autosprint magazine.

« But I am convinced of one thing: contrary to what one might imagine, Hamilton will gain a certain advantage from this change, and do you know why? Because he is phenomenal. »

Last year, he did something exceptional, but not so much for his own performances, which were fantastic anyway. He was exceptional on two occasions at a psychological level.

« First in the way of handling the pressure that instantly sticks to the skin of a rookie when they arrive in F1, and then in managing this same pressure, which was constantly increasing, because throughout the season he was the leader, » he explained.

« Can you imagine it? A rookie who held out until the last race before giving up their lead and thus the championship. And after all, let me tell you one thing: before I started winning championships, I lost a bit too often, if you remember well. But when I started winning… »

However, the Frenchman warns Hamilton that his new teammate Heikki Kovalainen will be difficult to sideline.

He added: « It is difficult to make predictions about the drivers but it’s easier with the teams. It will still be a battle between Ferrari and McLaren. There aren’t many surprises to be expected on that front. »

« On the other hand, for the drivers, everything will be much more uncertain. Hamilton will have to watch out for Kovalainen who will certainly be very good. As for the championship, the Finn is an outsider. »