(Reuters) – Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton praised Sebastian Vettel yesterday as his favorite Formula One opponent over the years.
Not to mention former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, who beat the Brython to the 2016 title in a fierce and often fierce battle between the pair, Hamilton praised the former Ferrari driver.
The pair appeared together at a virtual news conference ahead of the weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on the Imola circuit in Italy, with four-time champion Vettel now driving for Aston Martin.
The two were asked to name their favorite competition in the history of Formula One. “I have a very bad memory but I’m going to say my struggles and Seb’s favorite so far,” said Hamilton, the sport’s most successful driver ever, and his main opponent is Red’s Max Verstappen Bull.
“Knowing that I was racing against an amazing driver, and not only that but a great guy at Seb… and we were racing against another team, it was a Ferrari that was very strong at the time.
“It took a lot out of both of us in that period of time, to stay focused, to provide a weekend in, a weekend out. Although it was a difficult time for us, I think it probably brought us closer too because the respect we have for us is huge. ”
Vettel, who won his titles with Red Bull from 2010-13 and has battled for form in recent years, was second to Hamilton as a Ferrari driver at the 2017 and 2018 championships.
The German chose the late 1990s battles between Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen as well as the earlier epic confrontation between promoters Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost for their intensity and character differences.
“Back then I had a certain intensity because people were not as tolerant as they are today and probably not as mature. There was also a lot of bitterness and hatred, ”he said.
“We have come a long way since then to maybe not get these more intense fights, mostly off the rails. I think on the right track the fights are very intense but you probably won’t see something like that anymore in the future. ”
Hamilton said the rivalry with Verstappen, which could wreck the 36-year-old player’s bid for an eighth highest ever title this year, is different from that of Vettel.
“He doesn’t have the background that Seb has but obviously he has the opportunity to be the champion of the future. Whether that is now or later depends on the job that the team and I eventually do. “