Hamilton sets early pace in historic title duel with Vettel

LEWIS HAMILTON is relishing his forthcoming battle of “the best against the best” as he and rival Sebastian Vettel prepare for an historic shootout for the Formula One world championship.

Hamilton and Vettel are tied on four titles each, and their contest this year will mark the first time that two quadruple world champions have locked horns for motor racing’s biggest prize.

Hamilton, 33, is odds-on to get the job done, and he rubberstamped his tag as favourite by dominating first and second practice at a sweltering Albert Park in Melbourne yesterday ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Hamilton and his Mercedes employers had hoped to get his new £40m-a-year (€46m) contract extension over the line before this week’s curtain-raiser.

But for now, the announcement which will solidify Hamilton’s position as Britain’s highest-earning sportsperson will have to wait as he embarks on his championship challenge against Vettel.

“When you come towards the end of your career you want to know that you competed against the best,” Hamilton (above) said.

“There are those who bow out early, and there are those who won world championships that have not been that competitive. But the ultimate goal is to be the best, and for that you have to go up against the best.

“It has been a great experience for me to race Sebastian. He has got four world titles which is the most of any driver in our time, so it is an exciting year for Formula One fans, in that we have two four-time world champions battling it out.” Fast on the track, but away from it the pair are polar opposites. Hamilton, who scooted his way around the paddock yesterday, dines in celebrity circles and lays his life for all to see on social media.

In contrast, a deeply private Vettel, 30, has never sent one tweet. Here, he scoffed at a suggestion that he might follow his Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen in joining Instagram. Vettel however, does share one thing in common with Hamilton. “It becomes something special to win against the best,” Vettel said. “I did not race Lewis in karting, but was aware of the name. We met in Formula Three, where he was a lot better than I was, and then in Formula One. You care about who you race against and what it means.”