Christian Horner has backed Lewis Hamilton to challenge Max Verstappen for the F1 title next season, despite his problems at Mercedes.
The 39-year-old endured a Brazilian Grand Prix to forget on Sunday, with the veteran forced to settle for 10th.
Hamilton has struggled while racing for Mercedes over the past three years, with Verstappen dominating the sport as a result, meaning his time with the team looks to end on a low.
Following his triumph in Sao Paulo over the weekend, the Dutchman looks poised to add a fourth championship to his collection.
F1 news: Christian Horner has backed Lewis Hamilton to challenge Max Verstappen for the Formula One title next season, despite his problems at Mercedes.
PA/REUTERS
Some figures within the sport are starting to write off Hamilton.
He has won just two races ever since being denied a record-breaking eighth F1 title three years ago.
But Horner, speaking to talkSPORT, believes Hamilton is capable of challenging Verstappen when he joins Ferrari next year.
"He's obviously coming out of a very comfortable environment, one that he knows very well over the last 10 years, more than 10 years," he said.
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"So that'll be a change for him.
"Charles Leclerc is another very fast driver. But Ferrari is a team that looks like they're picking up momentum.
"For sure, a driver of Lewis' quality is always going to be a challenger.
"He could be just jumping at the right time. He's obviously seen things that he's chosen to change teams for because he believes in the future of Ferrari, so that's going to be fascinating to see how that plays out."
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Hamilton confirmed he would be leaving Mercedes at the start of the year.
Ferrari believe they've pulled off a major coup by securing his signature, with the Briton poised to replace Carlos Sainz Jr.
Sainz will drive for Williams next term instead.
But Marc Surer, speaking recently to Formel1.de, believes Ferrari may have made a massive mistake.
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REUTERS"I would say yes," he said when asked if he had concerns over Ferrari's decision to recruit Hamilton.
“If Hamilton comes, it will certainly be a very positive story at first.
"But in the long term, it is the wrong decision because Lewis Hamilton is getting old.
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Reuters“You don’t get faster with age. You become more experienced, you may be able to do more tricks in the race.
"But the pure speed is lost, even if that’s only hundredths of a second per year.
“That’s why I’m convinced that Hamilton is no longer as fast as he used to be.”
