Hill says Hamilton has his best years ahead of him

Lewis Hamilton’s best is yet to come – that’s the view of 1996 World Champion Damon Hill, who says his compatriot is poised to reach the peak of his powers as he enters his 30s.

Hamilton took his second world title for Mercedes last year after winning his first for McLaren in 2008, and won 11 Grands Prix to take his career tally to 33 victories, fifth on the all-time win list.

The 30 year-old Englishman will begin his title defence at this weekend’s Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, and Hill believes Hamilton is ideally placed to pick up where he left off in 2014, where he won six of the final seven races of the season.

“At 30, he’s still got the best years ahead of him – it’s when you’ve got talent, which he has in abundance, determination and fitness, and then start to marry that up with experience,” Hill told the Australian GP official website.

“I think between now and, say, 33-34, he’s certainly in contention for one, if not two, more championships.”

Hill won his sole World Championship in 1996 at the age of 36, a season which included a win in the inaugural Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.