Lewis: I don’t fear anyone... I’m the Federer of F1!

LEWIS Hamilton likened himself to Roger Federer as he declared he should have “no problems” in beating Sebastian Vettel to this year’s Formula One world championship.

Despite completing fewer miles than any of his rivals during a weather-hit opening test in Barcelona, Hamilton ominously ended on top of the time sheets with the fastest lap of the week. The 33-year-old British driver is gearing up for his assault on a fifth championship to join only Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher as drivers who have won the F1 title on more than four occasions.

Vettel upped the ante on Thursday by insisting that he is ready to end Mercedes’ dominance by clinching Ferrari’s first championship in more than a decade.

But Hamilton, who produced some of the finest performances of his career to see off Vettel’s challenge with two rounds remaining last season, is confident of delivering the same punishment in 2018.

“I don’t focus too much on anyone else and my mindset is that if I am at my best then I should have no problems,” Hamilton said. “That is how I will approach the season.

“If I prepare the best, come with the right approach and work hard, I believe I won’t have any problems.

“It is the same for a tennis player at their best. I am sure if you ask Federer he will believe that if he is playing hard and feels great there is no one that can touch him.

“You have to be convinced that is the case. I don’t prepare by hoping the other guy has issues. I want him to be at his best so it is more painful when you do out-perform them.”

Hamilton will return to action on Tuesday in the concluding four-day test at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya before opening his title defence in Melbourne on March 25.