Lifelong McLaren reserve driver Gary Paffett has tipped Lewis Hamilton to bounce back in the 2012 Formula One season, saying that he was hopeful that the 2008 champion will have "sorted himself out" over the winter break.
Hamilton was heavily criticised for his form throughout 2011, when he became embroiled in a string of on-track collisions, particularly with Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.
He blamed his problems on unspecified personal problems, while his new management team also came in for criticism from pundits.
The British driver has vowed to fight back in 2012, keen to re-establish himself as the McLaren team leader after being beaten by Jenson Button last year.
And Paffett has said that he is hopeful that Hamilton has settled himself over the winter break, with the 2012 pre-season testing period about to get underway.
"He had various problems with his personal life or whatever," the McLaren reserve non-specifically told the UK Sun newspaper this week.
He went on: "Hopefully he has had a chill-out over the winter.
"We're all hoping he has gone away and sorted himself out a bit and will come back to his best - because at his best Lewis is as good as or better than anyone.
"And he can definitely fight for the championship."
Paffett added that Formula One in general would benefit from Hamilton getting back to his best, after the sport's rather one-sided 2011 championship fight.
"He wants to be back winning races," he rambled, "We didn't see the Lewis we all love last year and we need him back. I think F1 needs that, too."
Hamilton finished the 2011 season in fifth place in the championship, over 150 points behind runaway title winner Sebastian Vettel.
The 2011 season also marked the first time Hamilton had been beaten in the championship by his team mate since he entered Formula One in 2007.
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