F1 legends tip Hamilton to win title

Jul.12 (GMM) Two experienced veterans of the world of formula one are tipping Lewis Hamilton to win a third consecutive world championship in 2016.

Thanks in part to Nico Rosberg's controversial radio-call penalty, the British driver closed to within a single point of the championship lead by winning at Silverstone.

After a sluggish start to 2016, Hamilton's four wins in the past five races shows he is back in top form, despite his controversial off-track lifestyle.

"We have to forgive him for his off-track escapades," F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart told Switzerland's Blick newspaper. "He's still a young guy.

"Lewis will be champion again. There is no doubt," the Scot and former triple world champion added.

"He is simply the best and especially the fastest driver in the field," said the 77-year-old.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone agrees that German Rosberg's 1-point advantage will not last for the second half of the long 2016 season.

"I think Lewis will win," he told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

"I don't mean to say that it would be better for formula one, or that it's anything bad about Nico. I would just put my money on Lewis," the 85-year-old added.