Hamilton to work harder to stop Verstappen, Leclerc

Lewis Hamilton says he will need to work “twice as hard” in the second half of the 2019 Formula 1 season to curb the emergence of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

The Dutchman has been on the grid a few years now, while Leclerc is in his second season overall and his first as a Ferrari driver. The duo are the only non-Mercedes drivers to win a race this campaign, with many believing that, when Hamilton retires, they will be the next generation of championship contenders.

With the Brit still around, however, he knows he will need to step up his game to keep up with the young guns.

"They are both doing a phenomenal job," Hamilton told Sky Sports ahead of the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

"It's interesting to watch their journey because I've been there at that age in the earlier part of my career and seeing the trials and tribulations you go through. So I can empathise with what they are going through.

"I've got to work twice as hard now to stay ahead of them because they are fresh and young and energised, and it's harder when you get older to stay as fit, as driven and as sharp."

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Hamilton is a five-time world champion in the sport and is on course for his sixth as he leads the current rankings by 65 points. However, he doesn’t pay attention to the points - just the race finishes.

"I honestly don't even know the number of points I have,” he insists.

“But that [Results] is what I try to keep as high as possible.

"I have no idea if and when or how the rest of the championship is going to go but I have to try and make sure I keep punching at this high level.”

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