Jenson Button knows Lewis Hamilton will win again

Lewis Hamilton’s former teammate Jenson Button is not writing the Mercedes driver off after a disappointing start to his 2022 season.

The retired Formula One world champion said criticism of Hamilton for finishing 13th in last month’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was unfair.

“He’s had a couple of bad races, we all have in our careers,” the Williams Racing ambassador told the Post ahead of this weekend’s first Miami Grand Prix. “Right now he’s having a tough time and people are saying he’s not doing his job as well as his teammate [George Russell].

“He hasn’t lost it since last season when he was winning races. He’s a seven-time world champion – almost eight – and will fight as long as he wants.”

Button, who was team-mates with Hamilton at McLaren in the early years of his career, said it was “only a matter of time” before the 103-time Grand Prix winner led his team back to the top of the grid.

“If he wants to be competitive, he will be competitive. He’s so important to this team, he has so much experience and he knows how to develop a car,” said the 2009 champion.

However, Mercedes now faces its first uphill battle since 2014 after winning the last eight Constructors’ Championships.

“It’s unusual for a lot of guys on the team, it’s the first time they haven’t won,” Button said. “[But] it will be good for their careers. You have to lose sometimes, that strengthens you as a person, you also learn a lot.”

F1 now heads to South Florida, with the checkered flag flying at the Miami International Autodrome on Sunday, May 8th.

“This will be the new best race in Formula 1,” said Button of the Miami GP.

“I know that’s a big deal to say…poor Monaco,” he quipped. “There is so much excitement about this race and Miami is such a fun city. This is going to be a crazy weekend.”