Lewis Hamilton has to channel his inner Nigel Mansell and deliver a home win for British Grand Prix fans at Silverstone this weekend, according to David Coulthard.
Mansell used to say his home crowd gave him a boost of a second a lap, while Hamilton has won his home race on a record seven occasions.
And Coulthard said: “I do think that Lewis is someone who does respond in a kind of Nigel Mansell way to home support and truly believes it can lift him.
“I think it’s a really important weekend for the championship. It feels a little bit like Mercedes have to deliver this weekend, it feels like Lewis has to deliver this weekend because Max [Verstappen], he’s not scared of anyone, he is a natural-born winner, he is on the crest of a wave right now and he’s not going to be fazed by lots of Union Jacks.”
Verstappen goes into the race 32 points clear of Hamilton in the drivers’ championship with five victories to his rival’s three this season to date.
Hamilton has not won a race since the Spanish Grand Prix at the start of May with he and Mercedes struggling for pace and performance.
Despite the setback, former Red Bull racer Coulthard, who won his home race on two occasions, said Hamilton was still relishing the fight with Verstappen.
Coulthard told Motorsport.com: “What I’ve observed if you look at the last couple of races which he’s lost, he’s been much calmer and much more magnanimous in defeat. What I’ve seen is an elegance, I’ve seen a confidence, truly relishing the challenge.
“Of course, he wants a title. Of course he wants to win. I think the fact that he’s signed up for another two years, he is just so motivated by the challenge. I think that Max Verstappen and Red Bull this year have extended his career.”
