Lewis Hamilton has said his Formula One championship rival Sebastian Vettel would not accept the challenge of competing against the British driver in the same team. Vettel’s contract with Ferrari comes to a conclusion at the end of this season but Hamilton insisted the German would not join Mercedes because he would not agree to racing for a team where the drivers are afforded equal status and allowed to race one another. The two are in a tight battle for the title and Hamilton also admitted he has found the first 11 meetings extremely tiring.
Hamilton, speaking before the Belgian Grand Prix this Sunday, trails Vettel by 14 points in the world championship. Ferrari have made it clear they are favouring Vettel for the title over his team‑mate Kimi Raikkonen, whose contract was renewed this week, a move considered to have been taken because he has accepted the No2 role and has not been a threat to Vettel.
“I know he doesn’t want to be my team‑mate,” Hamilton said. “He would not be in the position he is now in his team in terms of how the team operate if he was here. I am always game to race whoever it is and racing against the best drivers is always a great thing.”
Ferrari favoured Vettel over Raikkonen at Monaco and Hungary, the latter meeting where Hamilton returned third place to his team-mate Valtteri Bottas having agreed to do so. He believed it was a clear indicator of how strong their relationship is. “The last race is one of the best examples of how great the team is currently. Coming into this season I haven’t changed a single thing that I do, but there is another new element in the team and it works.”
Vettel is expected to renew his contract with Ferrari but insisted in Spa there had been no decision and that he did not expect one to be revealed within the next two weeks. However, the fact Ferrari have re-signed Raikkonen suggests a renewal is increasingly likely and the German welcomed the move. “It’s quite straightforward to work with him,” he said. “I think everybody who knows him knows he’s quite straightforward. He’s a good match, and obviously it is great to continue like that.”
The two drivers have been in a closely fought battle for the title this season and have four wins apiece but Hamilton has only held a share of the lead once – after the second round in China. Despite his vast experience – this weekend will be his 200th grand prix – he admitted that the battle with Vettel had proved difficult to endure.
“You don’t want your competitors to see if you are struggling mentally or physically, you don’t ever want to show weakness,” he said. “But it is so challenging for everyone involved in our team and in the sport. As a competitor at the top level I take a lot of inspiration from other competitors: Serena, Federer and [Valentino] Rossi and you see their experiences and try to take it on. But it is so draining.”
Yet he insisted he was re-energised after the summer break and focused on the task in hand. “It’s important that we win every race. I want to be ahead of him in every single race from now on. That is my goal. No games, I am here to win. I want it just as much if not more than everyone else this year.”
