Lewis Hamilton says he doesn’t expect McLaren to be challenging the likes of Mercedes at the front of the grid next season.
Hamilton, who started his Formula 1 career with McLaren in 2007 before winning the title in 2008, ended his career with McLaren late 2012 to join current outfit Mercedes.
Since then, McLaren has finished fifth in 2013 and 2014 but have struggled to get to grips with the new Honda engine which has provided a handful of issues.
Hamilton, who is now heading towards his second consecutive title and third overall said this week that he “feels sorry” for McLaren when he looks at the bottom end of the timing screens.
“It is a team that still has a big piece of my heart,” the Spanish newspaper AS quoted Hamilton as saying at a Petronas sponsor event in Milan.”Seeing them suffer like this, knowing how competitive and successful they are historically, it’s not easy,” he added. “When I see them at the bottom of the screens, with Manor, I just feel bad.
Hamilton also added that Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso are two of “the best drivers” on the grid.
They are two great drivers who I’m not fighting with, and I hope that changes soon,” he said. But when asked if he thinks McLaren’s breakthrough will be in 2016, Hamilton admitted, “Man, you can never say never, but I don’t think so.”
