Vettel will come back stronger, says Hamilton

Sebastian Vettel could still claw his way back to the top of the Formula One drivers' standings, according to Lewis Hamilton.

Published : Sep 28, 2017 23:13 IST

Lewis Hamilton believes Formula One championship rival Sebastian Vettel will come back stronger from his Singapore nightmare.

Vettel was involved in a first-corner crash with Ferrari colleague Kimi Raikkonen and Red Bull's Max Verstappen last time out, bringing an abrupt end to the race of all three.

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Hamilton went on to win at the Marina Bay Street Circuit and take a 28-point lead at the top of the drivers' standings with six races to go.

But the Briton will not be hasty in making room for a fourth world title in his trophy cabinet.

"[Vettel] is a four-time world champion, so it's difficult to really know how he's going to react," said Hamilton.

"Firstly, I don't know how he's taken it, the mistake at the last race, and I don't know how he has reflected on it, but greats generally bounce back, so I have to anticipate he will bounce back even stronger.

"I don't remember the last time I have seen him falter under pressure. I don't know whether he feels pressure."

Hamilton added that he is not concerned with when he wraps up the title, saying: "It doesn't matter when, the question is if. And I am just trying to make sure it is done by the time I cross the line at the end of the season - that is all that matters.

"I have not really reflected that much on the last race. I went into it thinking I would lose a lot of points to Sebastian, so to come out the other way around it was a real surprise.

"But of course it is a turning point when you go from being behind all season long and now two races being in the lead.

"There are lots of turning points within the year and I am trying to make sure that was the last one."

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