Formula 1 digest: McLaren would welcome back Lewis Hamilton

Brown: Hamilton is an ‘unbelievable driver’

McLaren executive director Zak Brown says the Woking-based Formula 1 team would welcome back former driver Lewis Hamilton if the world champion ever decides to leave Mercedes.

Hamilton won the first of his four world championships with McLaren in 2008 and is going into the final year of his Mercedes contract. Brown told The Guardian: “He is an unbelievable driver. There isn’t a team in the pit lane that would not be interested in having Lewis drive for them, us included.”

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Meanwhile, Brown has told the BBC that McLaren expect to make the “biggest step forward” of all the F1 teams in the 2018 campaign. After swapping Honda engines for Renault, McLaren are in confident mood. Brown said: “We should be the team that has the biggest difference in grid position from last year to this year. Everyone, including ourselves, is eager to see what that looks like.”

Ricciardo wants future Hamilton partnership

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo has told Racer.com that he would like to be in the same team as Lewis Hamilton in the future. He said: “I would like a fast team-mate. It’s always a true evaluation of how good you are and where you stand. I am in this sport to win, but to win by being the best. To be the best you have to go against the best. I would like to go against Lewis at some point. Irrespective of team situation, that would be fun.”

Perez training hard ahead of Barcelona

Barcelona testing is not taking place until 26 February, but Force India driver Sergio Perez is busy in the gym building strength ahead of the new F1 season. He tweeted: “Training strength and fast reactions. Still some weeks to go but ready for testing in Barcelona.” The opening F1 grand prix of the 2018 season takes place in Australia on 25 March.

Montoya, 12, joins Ferrari academy

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya’s son Sebastian has signed with the Ferrari Driver Academy, Autosport reports. The 12-year-old will join Ferrari’s programme this year and will compete in the OKJ category of the European Karting Championship.