Vettel Blames Hamilton for Missing Fifth F1 Title with … Read more
Sebastian Vettel has pointed to Lewis Hamilton’s dominance as a key reason why he was unable to secure a fifth Formula 1 world championship while racing for Ferrari. The two drivers, at the peak of their careers, fiercely contested the title in 2017 and 2018, with Hamilton continuing to dominate the sport with Mercedes during that time.
Vettel joined Ferrari at the end of 2014, after a successful run with Red Bull that saw him secure four consecutive world titles between 2010 and 2013. However, after the 2014 regulation changes, Mercedes emerged as the dominant team, with Hamilton leading the charge and winning five titles in total, including a shared title with teammate Nico Rosberg in 2016. In contrast, Ferrari was still trying to return to championship-winning ways, and Vettel’s efforts to bring the team back to the top were ultimately unsuccessful.
Despite claiming 14 victories during his time with Ferrari and engaging in two thrilling championship battles with Hamilton and Mercedes in 2017 and 2018, Vettel never managed to win the world championship with the Italian team. Reflecting on his time at Ferrari, Vettel revealed in an interview with the BBC podcast Sportsworld that his failure to clinch a title could largely be attributed to Hamilton’s success with Mercedes. “Well, for me, it didn’t quite work [winning the title at Ferrari] because Lewis was there,” Vettel confessed, admitting that Hamilton’s consistent excellence made it extremely difficult to overcome the competition.
Vettel emphasized that, despite the intense competition, he has a great deal of respect for Hamilton. “We get along really well, and he’s by far the most outspoken driver on the grid at the minute,” Vettel said. He continued to praise Hamilton’s on-track ability, acknowledging that “his on-track skills don’t need to be repeated” as his success and statistics speak for themselves. Vettel also expressed his appreciation for Hamilton’s influence in the sport, stating, “It’s great to see that he’s still on the grid, and he still has that influence and uses it in a positive manner.”
Currently, Hamilton is making a significant career move as he seeks to add to his already impressive legacy with Ferrari, now at the age of 40. He has partnered with Charles Leclerc in hopes of securing Ferrari’s first title since 2008, but his tenure with the team has not started as spectacularly as he might have hoped. Despite winning a sprint race in China, Hamilton has only scored one point in the first two main races of the season. The start to his Ferrari campaign took a hit when he and Leclerc were both disqualified following the Chinese Grand Prix. The disqualification was due to excessive wear on Hamilton’s skid block, which raised questions about the team’s performance and reliability.
As Hamilton attempts to challenge for a record-breaking eighth world title, many are watching closely to see if his move to Ferrari will bring a revival for the Scuderia, which has been searching for its first world title in over a decade. Meanwhile, Vettel’s time at Ferrari will be remembered for his resilience and the missed opportunity of challenging Hamilton at the peak of his power. Despite the challenges, Vettel’s acknowledgment of Hamilton’s skill and influence on the grid showcases a deep respect for his rival’s remarkable career.
