On his way to a total of seven Formula 1 titles, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton had to deal with several opponents. One of them was Sebastian Vettel in his Ferrari days. Now Hamilton has revealed how difficult it was to start a friendship with the German in this hot phase and how close the connection between the two, which connects much more than just sport, is now.
Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton drove together in Formula 1 for more than a decade. 2023 will be the first season in which Hamilton has to do without the German for the first time in twelve years, with whom he fought an intense duel for the title, especially in 2017 delivered in the World Cup. Now Hamilton faced “Racer.com“back to the relationship between the two, which was difficult at the beginning.
The Brit was pleased with “this respect between two people who fought such tough battles on the track,” as he revealed to the portal. “It’s tough being friends when you’re going head-to-head and one wins and the other doesn’t,” Hamilton continued.
Above all, the “psychological” dimension of the competition between him and Vettel was “tough”, dealing with it difficult.
Formula 1: Hamilton praises Vettel
He is now all the more “extremely grateful” that the sporting togetherness has left no traces and that he and the German, who is ending his Formula 1 career after this season, have become “such good friends”. “And I actually believe that this friendship will only grow and get even better,” added Hamilton.
Commitment to social causes connects the Mercedes driver and Vettel. While the Briton is primarily committed to the rights of black people and a more open society, Vettel has taken up the cause of preserving the environment and wants to ensure that everyone will continue to find a planet worth living in in the future.
“We’ve had some really great races in the past,” Hamilton said, looking back at the time together on the track, “and I’m so proud of how he’s mastered it all, how he’s opened up and is now clamoring for his concerns,” Hamilton praised the Aston Martin driver. “I have no doubts that whatever he decides to do in the future, he will continue to do so.”