The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Formula One: Race to do the high five is on for Hamilton and Vettel.
Motor Sport: Hamilton and Vettel suit up in championship first
Lewis Hamilton and archrival Sebastian Vettel are ready for a historic shootout for the Formula One world championship, starting with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne tomorrow.
Mercedes driver Hamilton and Ferrari’s Vettel are tied on four world 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.
Briton Hamilton, 33, is odds-on to get the better of his German rival and he rubber-stamped his tag as favourite by dominating both first and second practice at a sweltering Albert Park yesterday.
Hamilton and his employers had hoped to get his new £40million-a-year 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 and the quest to engrave his name among the sport’s immortals.
Only Michael Schumacher, with his record haul of seven, and Juan Manuel Fangio, with five, have won more titles than Hamilton and Vettel.
Hamilton said: “You want to know that you competed against the best. 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 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.”
Away from the track, the two rivals are polar opposites. Hamilton, who scooted his way around the paddock yesterday, dines in celebrity circles and lays his life on social media for all to see.
In contrast, a deeply pri- vate Vettel, 30, has never sent one tweet. 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.
“In my case if I looked at those I raced against through my career, it has always been the same people.
“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. Now I am searching for the ultimate satisfaction with Ferrari, which is the greatest team in history.
“I want to win for Ferrari and I want to win against the best and Lewis is arguably one of them.”
The early signs are that Vettel will have his work cut out.
The Ferrari driver was only fifth in practice and half-a-second down on Hamilton.
There was some encouragement for the chasing pack with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen only 0.127 seconds adrift of Hamilton’s best time. Home favourite Daniel Ricciardo however, was dealt a blow when he was handed a three-place grid penalty following a red flag infringement during practice.
Weather may yet be a factor this weekend.
The temporary track around the Albert Park lake was bathed in sunshine on Friday, but the remainder of the weekend could be interrupted, with showers forecast to hit during both qualifying and the race.
Hope perhaps for the rest, but the smart money remains on Hamilton.
“To be the best you have to go up against the best. That’s the goal” “Arguably, Lewis is one of the best. You care about who you race”