Sebastian Vettel et Lewis Hamilton, it is a rivalry lasting 16 seasons, from 2007 to 2022. However, on occasion from a podcast at BBCSport, the former pilot Aston Martin expressed his willingness to see his former rival Briton succeeds in his new adventure at Ferrari and win the championship Formula 1, which he failed to do.
« For me it didn't quite work, recognizes the four-time world champion about his career at the Team Ferrari, for whom he drove from 2015 to 2020. The goal was to win for the Reds, but the Heppenheim native continually came up against the Silver Arrows, who were totally dominating Formula 1 at that time. He himself admits that his failure to win the championship is partly " because Lewis (Hamilton) was there."
This on-track rivalry did not prevent the two men from building a healthy and respectful relationship. I raced with him for a long time. We get along very well, he is by far the most outspoken driver on the grid at the moment, praises the German. His skills on the track don't need to be reiterated. I think the numbers and statistics speak for themselves. It's great to see that he's still on the grid and still has that influence, which he uses in a positive way."
Vettel hopes to see Hamilton shine
Despite being his nemesis in his quest for a world title with Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel, retired from Formula 1 for three years, is not guided by bitterness and wants to see Hamilton succeed where he failed. "Let's see how he does, but naturally, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he wins the championship."
For the uninitiated or the troglodytes, Lewis Hamilton is the most successful Formula 1 driver in the history of the sport. In 2024, he left Mercedes, the team with which he won everything to join the iconic Scuderia Ferrari. A team deprived of the Drivers' title for 18 years already and the coronation of Kimi Räikkönen in 2007, the Maranello firm hopes to return to winning ways with the Englishman, seven times world champion. Author of his first victory with Ferrari in the Sprint race of the Chinese Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was less fortunate the following day, with a disqualification following an insufficient thickness of the wear pad of his carThe beginnings in red are contrasting.
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Yves-Henri RANDIER
26/03/2025 at 06:11 a.m.
Hamilton winning an 8th title with the Scuderia, the story will be beautiful... but we can't say it's off to a great start! The bee man can pray and go light candles in Maranello