Share

Vettel is 'not afraid' of Hamilton

Cape Town - With the 2017 championship battle a thing of the past, Sebastian Vettel has warned Lewis Hamilton that he'll do his utmost to stop him from winning a fifth title in 2018.

Vettel bid farewell to any chance of championship success this season when he finished fourth in Mexico meaning Hamilton has an unassailable lead with two rounds remaining.

It was a disappointing end to the season for the Ferrari driver, who had been leading by as much as 25 points after the Monaco Grand Prix. 

However, issues after the summer break, including a lack of pace, reliability troubles and a crash, meant he once again lost out to the Mercedes driver. 

Vettel has warned Hamilton that he expects a different outcome come 2018. 

"Looking at the season, Lewis was the better man and that's why he earned the title," he told Sport Bild. 

"But next season I will do my utmost to keep Lewis from getting the fifth title. 

"2017 was his year, but 2018 is another story. 

"You never know what will happen in the future. Everything starts again from zero. 

"As Ferrari, we are on the right track. I firmly believe that we can be at the front in 2018. 

"Tomorrow you wake up and it will be a different day." 

The German is already looking forward to more on-track battles against Hamilton as beating the Brit holds added weight. 

"I'm not afraid of Lewis," he said. "On the contrary: I like racing against him. 

"If you win against a Lewis Hamilton, you're proud of it because you know that the level he drives at is extremely high."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE