Gunning for fourth title, Hamilton relishes friendly fight with Vettel
Lewis Hamilton goes into this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix determined to build momentum in his bid for a fourth world title and to keep his battle with Sebastian Vettel as friendly as possible.
After three highly competitive and often acrimonious years competing with now retired 2016 champion and former Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, the Englishman is relishing a different kind of challenge this year.
Instead of fighting his Mercedes partner, newly-recruited Valtteri Bottas, he is in a scrap for glory with four-time champion Vettel of Ferrari.
“We are working so hard and so are Ferrari,” said Hamilton, fresh from his victory in China last weekend. “I am expecting a very tough weekend in Bahrain where they are likely to be even stronger than in China because their car works, in general, better in hot conditions than cold.
“We made the most of our chance last weekend and we have to work hard to try and stay in front this time.”
Vettel has been just as generous as Hamilton in heaping praise on his rival and the pair have so far served up one win each amid much mutual backslapping and respect.
“You have to take any advantage you can get,” said Hamilton, ahead of this Sunday’s floodlit night race at the Sakhir International Circuit where he will be seeking his third win at the track in four years, following Rosberg’s triumph last year. That is why we are doing so much now, working so hard. It is so important early on, as I learned last year. Hopefully, it will pay dividends at the end. I really have to try and make sure I finish ahead again in the