Lewis Hamilton identifies his two biggest challengers for 2020 season during FIA speech

Lewis Hamilton has braced himself for fierce challenges from Max Verstappen at Red Bull and Ferrari’s stable next season after running away with the 2019 title. Hamilton secured the World

Drivers’ Championship with two races remaining this year as he dominated the field.

Hamilton won six of the first eight races to tee up his third successive championship with Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas actually proving the closest competition for top spot.

Verstappen also showed he has the capabilities to become a future world champion, though, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel in fourth and fifth.

Hamilton said his sixth triumph was the toughest of his career but, despite the margin of victory, the Englishman expects an even more difficult challenge in 2020.

"I'm just looking forward to this winter - next year is going to be close,” he said after officially picking up his F1 trophy.

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“The Red Bulls with Max are going to be fantastic, the Ferraris have picked up their pace and have been extraordinary in the second half of the season.

"I'm hoping you're going to see the closest season yet. I'll be best prepared and hope for the best season there's been."

Hamilton is now one away from Michael Schumacher’s haul of seven world titles and only looks like he is improving; he broke his previous best point tally while registering a joint-best 11

wins across the campaign.

"This has definitely been the best season of my life," the Silver Arrows driver added. “I've enjoyed collaborating with this incredible team.

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“Fighting hard with Valtteri and a lot of these up and coming young drivers this year has been fantastic.”

But, as for Schumacher’s records, Hamilton claimed to be uninterested.

"Records have never really been something I've focused on," he added. "Every year it's a blank slate.”

Hamilton did miss out on gong during the FIA gala, though, with Action of the Year going to Verstappen.

The Dutchman’s epic duel with Leclerc at Silverstone came one week after the Red Bull kingpin had pipped the Prancing Horse's driver to victory in Austria, and Verstappen broke down the

phase after receiving the award.

“You had to pay a lot of attention because it was a lot of things going on - I think this was only one move of that race,” Verstappen said.

“We had a lot of fights! It was cool, there was a lot of off-track wheel-banging which doesn’t normally happen in Formula One. I liked it.

“When you come out on top that is more satisfying than losing out! [Our rivalry] started in go-karting and I’m sure it will continue for a few more years. It’s good for the sport.”

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