Hamilton expects Vettel to return "all guns blazing" in 2018

  • Published on 29 Dec 2017 12:27
  • comments 5
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Lewis Hamilton believes that Formula 1 will see a much stronger Sebastian Vettel in 2018, having learned from his mistakes this season. Hamilton beat Vettel to the world championship in 2017, drawing himself level with the German on four titles.

However, Hamilton thinks that Vettel will learn from his mistakes of 2017, such as his deliberate car-to-car attack on Hamilton in Azerbaijan, and triggering a start line crash with teammate Kimi Raikkonen and Red Bull's Max Verstappen in Singapore.

Vettel topped the championship standings from the opening round right up until the Italian Grand Prix in September. However, he conceded the title in Mexico, with his race damaged by another opening lap collision - this time with Hamilton himself.

However, Hamilton thinks Vettel will be much stronger next season:  "I'm not going to tell you what I've learned but you can see it and I think you guys have learned about him," he said. "He shouldn't shy away from that. He will learn from the experiences, as we all do.

"I have had years like that. He has had years of complete solidity like [mine] this year as well. I imagine next year he's going to be coming back guns blazing, but I don't feel there's anything I can't achieve if I put the work in."

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (5)

Login to reply
  • Going in "guns blazing" isnt really Vettel's style though.

    • + 0
    • Dec 29 2017 - 17:34
    • mbmwe36

      Posts: 533

      Not really, no. But he'll probably have to try something, because I don't think Ferrari will produce a faster car than Mercedes, much less keep any advantage they might have at the start of the season throughout the season.

      • + 0
      • Dec 29 2017 - 18:17
  • Hopefully is hard racing from the beginning and no ridiculous bromance like this year. It took Vettel pulling the first dirty move to change everything. More than anything else, I hope it's someone other than Vettel fighting Hamilton at the top. I think Verstappen, Alonso, and Ricciardo could actually get under Lewis' skin and create some really spectacular tension. Vettel got just got schooled even in days when he had the faster car.

    • + 0
    • Dec 30 2017 - 19:14
    • boudy

      Posts: 1,168

      If Renault make a decent enough PU you could see that happening. But will they?

      • + 0
      • Jan 2 2018 - 13:35
    • I expect Renault to get much stronger during the winter, since they will basically just have to build on the platform they created for 2017. But Im not sure if they'll catch Ferrari, or if they can keep up with Ferrari's and Mercedes' midseason upgrade pace, especially if they'll be as unwilling to upgrade past the midseason point as they've been during 2016 and 2017.

      • + 0
      • Jan 2 2018 - 15:12

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Country Netherlands
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (27)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), Netherlands
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile
show sidebar