Hamilton fires F1 rivals ominous warning after winter recovery

Lewis Hamilton has fired an ominous warning to his F1 rivals by declaring "if you think what you saw at the end of last year was my best, wait until you see this year."

The Briton enters the new year fuelled by the controversial ending to last year's campaign where Max Verstappen made a last-gasp overtake for the race win and championship in Abu Dhabi.

Whilst the FIA has started to make changes operationally in the wake of the outcry in the aftermath of the Yas Marina race, Hamilton made his first appearance at Mercedes' W13 launch on Friday [February 18].

Put to him his record in the face of adversity and asked how much Abu Dhabi had fuelled him this season, Hamilton referred to the winter break and replied: "With these long seasons, the off-time isn't as long as you would hope for.

"It seems to get shorter and shorter but I think over the years I have learnt how to be efficient with my time and my recovery and with training and building back up of both your body and mind, but I feel great. I feel fit.

"Naturally, when you have an extra year of experience under your belt, that always helps and I always feel like through these sorts of experiences, you can turn that emotion into strength and into power.

"That is what I am doing. I am putting that into my training, I am putting that into my work that I have with the men and women in this team.

"If you think what you saw at the end of last year was my best, wait until you see this year."

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