Hamilton on Vettel: “Give more space. – not in a negative way.”
Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull have been battling it out on the F1 tracks in recent years. McLaren made a switch to Honda which brought nothing but headaches. For 2018, the Honda engine is removed at the McLaren camp.
As the defending champion, who does Lewis Hamilton feel he needs to watch in 2018?
Those drivers; Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), Max Verstappen, (Red Bull), Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
“We’re the four strongest drivers,” Hamilton told Motorsport.com. I really hope we are all in the fight next year. It would be friggin’ amazing.”
Early in the 2017 season Lewis Hamilton said he hoped for more “on track stuff.” He was referring to on-track battles over passes made during pit stops. Hamilton has been in the clear lead with the Mercedes F1 car in recent years.
He’s ready for a battle. I’d almost go so far to say that it sound like he’s been bored at the front by himself.
“You look at them all slightly differently,” added Hamilton. “They all have different characteristics.”
“Sebastian, for example, from this year, you could say: ‘Give more space.’ – not in a negative way.”
Vettel and Hamilton made contact during the caution laps last year. Made contact, sounds like it was mutual. Really, Vettel just turned into Hamilton during the yellow.
Related: Sebastian Vettel hits Hamilton under caution (VIDEO)
“Max takes a lot of risks. Also, you have to give [him] more space, but he is more inexperienced than the other guys.
“Fernando – toughest driver there is, so you have to keep that utmost respect for each other, but you’ve really got to play your cards right to utilize the racecraft.
“His racecraft is mighty, but Max’s racecraft is very impressive [too].”
Max Verstappen made his F1 debut in 2014 at age 18. He now has 60 starts under his belt with 3 wins and a full highlight reel. Hamilton also envisioned Max’s career 10 years down the line.
“I don’t think it will be a problem, it’ll just be freaking tough [to beat him]. Wouldn’t that be a fight? Even I’d pay to see that.”
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Links
Lewis Hamilton | Sebastian Vettel | Max Verstappen | Fernando Alonso | F1
