Lewis Hamilton believes his hunger to win this year�s Formula One world title matches that which saw Rafael Nadal write a remarkable chapter in Wimbledon�s rich history.
Lewis Hamilton believes his hunger to win this year's Formula One world title matches that which saw Rafael Nadal write a remarkable chapter in Wimbledon's rich history.
On the day Hamilton produced one of the greatest drives in F1 to win the British Grand Prix at a rain-soaked Silverstone, Nadal beat Roger Federer in an epic men's final at SW19.
After winning five successive Wimbledon titles, the "Fed Express" ran into the Spaniard on a day when he produced his best display on grass. The five-set thriller now has a place in the record books at it was the longest Wimbledon men's final at 4hr 48min.
Like many others who left Silverstone at the end of the grand prix, an enthralled Hamilton listened to his radio on the way home as the two men fought out their battle.
The McLaren driver feels it was Nadal's greater hunger to win that saw him home, a facet of the tennis ace's character he can easily identify with.
After missing out on the world title by a point last season, that hunger to go one step further this year is driving on Hamilton. "Listening to that Wimbledon final on the way home, it made it just a great weekend, one I will always remember," said Hamilton, still basking in the success of his win on home soil.
"I thought Federer was going to win. I'm not biased when I say that just because I know him and he is a great guy, a fantastic athlete who has achieved so much. Federer had won five times in a row, and he was going for his sixth.
"That is incredible, a bit like Michael Schumacher in many respects as he was someone who had the same determination and hunger but Nadal had something new - he had even more hunger, and I think it is impossible to match that once you have done something a lot of times.
"Nadal had never tasted it and, for me, I can probably identify with his hunger to win that first title but that hunger within me is definitely greater this year after what happened to me last year."
At the halfway stage of the year Hamilton heads into this weekend's German Grand Prix in a three-way tie for the lead alongside Ferrari duo Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, but ahead on countback.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel has been confirmed as a Red Bull Racing driver for next season, hailing it "a dream come true". Following David Coulthard's decision to retire at the end of this year, Red Bull boss Christian Horner has moved swiftly to plug the gap. The move is unsurprising as Vettel has long been touted for a switch from sister team Toro Rosso.
Vettel, who has been part of the Red Bull "family" for eight years, said: "Throughout my career, they have offered me great support. Now, to drive for their senior F1 team is a dream come true."
