Hamilton recalls more testing behind Bridgestone-era rain tyres

Lewis Hamilton says the wet-weather tyres of his early Formula 1 career were better than today’s Pirelli compounds. He linked that advantage to more testing and development during the Bridgestone era.

The seven-time world champion said wet races no longer feel as they did earlier in his career. He cited his 2008 British Grand Prix victory as one of the great rain races he had experienced.

Hamilton made the comparison after the rain-disrupted Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Heavy rain delayed the start by 40 minutes, and he said he had looked forward to racing wheel-to-wheel in the wet with Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli. Hamilton started on slicks, was 18th early on and recovered to finish third.