As Lewis Hamilton, the biggest personality in Formula 1, makes his way back into the paddock for the Dutch GP, he enters the second half of the season with a big load on his shoulders. Amid all the different uncertainties that accompany him, getting back at Red Bull is his biggest goal. One that Mercedes entrusts him with. Along with juggling Mercedes’ $11 million pressure, he has now shifted his focus into going over and above to displace Sergio Perez from his relatively high position in the world championship.

A team that steps up from P3 and finishes P2 in the constructors’ championship gets bigger winnings – $11 million more. As of now, the Silver Arrows look safe to hold onto P2 if they can continue performing decently. But such meager goals are not what one expects from a 7-time champion. And neither does Hamilton from himself. Along with getting the bare minimum of P2 in the constructors’, the Briton is determined to topple the inconsistent Perez from P2 in the drivers’ championship.

“My goal is to try and figure out how to have the best 10 races I have ever had in the second half of the season. We know, performance-wise, we’re not gonna blitz these races. But (we’ll be) maximizing points every weekend, holding onto second in the constructors’ championship.” A sly smile popped up on his face as he said the following: “And chasing down Perez – that’s my goal”

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What’s his goal will remain his goal and Perez now has something more to worry about. But Hamilton’s ambitious targets don’t quite seem to go hand-in-hand with a former F1 world champion’s prediction.

1996 World Champion Damon Hill undermines Lewis Hamilton in battle against Sergio Perez

Whenever we think of Red Bull v/s Mercedes, the drivers that come to mind are Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Since the former is performing a bit too good to be true, Hamilton is now reduced to fighting the lesser capable RB driver for P2 in the WDC. However, according to 1996 world champion Damon Hill, the 7-time champ is doomed to lose this battle as well.

Hill said on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, “I don’t think Lewis can get Checo. I’d be amazed if he could overturn his performance. We don’t want Checo to have another nightmare middle part of the season like he’s had and I think he’s turned a corner a bit.”

Going into the Dutch GP, Hamilton is 41 points behind Perez. How quickly do you think he can chase him down, if he can?

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