Hamilton wants more competition

The 2017 Formula One season has seen Lewis Hamilton clearly enjoying the new found competition that Mercedes have got with Ferrari.

Even when the three-time Formula One World Champion is being beaten by their new found rivals in the form of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.

The British driver clearly enjoys the battle of competition with a rival team, much more than the inter-team battle he previously had for three seasons with former team-mate Nico Rosberg.

But whilst more competition sees his odds of adding to his three world championships increase, Hamilton wants former team McLaren and Williams both return to the front of the grid as well.

?What?s sad for me watching Formula 1 is you see the depth of teams, Williams, McLaren, and they?re not back there [at the front],? he told motorsport.com.

?Williams hasn?t been right in the fight for years – they had that real slump, and now McLaren?s having it.

?There?s a passion with Ferrari, there?s a passion with Mercedes, passion with McLaren – because of the drivers, experiences and championships they?ve had while I?ve been watching Formula 1.

‘I hope in my time left in Formula 1 there is a period of time where Williams is up there with us and McLaren is up there with us and there?s a real strong front line of the top teams ? which I think is magical.

McLaren’s slump is highlighted in one single statistic.

Since Lewis Hamilton shocked Formula One and left McLaren for Mercedes in 2012, McLaren have not won a single Grand Prix.

Hamilton in contrast has won 33 races and clinched two Formula One World Championships.

Williams have won one Grand Prix since 2004 and they haven’t won the Formula One constructors title or the Formula One World Championship since 1997 [Jacques Villeneuve].