“Hunter” Hamilton running out of chances in 2021 F1 title race - Hill

After Hamilton’s latest emphatic victory in Qatar, he trails Verstappen by just eight points. 

With two rounds to go the momentum is on Hamilton and Mercedes’ side after dominating the last two weekends.

Despite Hamilton’s spectacular recent form, Verstappen could take the title next time out in Saudi Arabia should results go his way. 

Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Hill said: “Lewis likes to be the hunter, doesn't he? So he's happy where he is, hunting.

“But he's got precious few opportunities now to make up the deficit, and we have got a statistical situation now where he could lose the championship to Max.

“Max could win it in the next round at Saudi Arabia, if certain permutations take place.”

Verstappen will take his maiden F1 title if he wins in Jeddah and Hamilton finishes sixth or lower.

The seven-time champion hasn’t finished that low since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while his only non-finish of the season came at Monza when he collided with Verstappen.

Hill is hopeful the title race goes down to the wire in Abu Dhabi.

“It's the first time we've got all the way down to the last two races," Hill added. "And this is the first time you could actually say, 'If something happens to one of the protagonists, the other guy's going to be the World Champion.

“Well no, actually. It could only be Max [in Saudi Arabia], it couldn't be Lewis because he's got the deficit. When was the last time he came sixth? 

“You've got this new engine, don't forget. Toto said they're going to put the 'spicy engine' in.”