Lewis Hamilton believes that Sebastian Vettel will learn from the mistakes he made in his failed 2017 Formula 1 championship bid, and will come back stronger in 2018.
Hamilton wrapped up the title in Mexico with two races to go, despite Vettel having led the championship up until as late as Monza.
Key mistakes from Vettel included losing what seemed to be certain victories for the German in Azerbaijan and Singapore.
He had to settle for fourth in Azerbaijan after being penalised for deliberately driving into title-rival Hamilton and a first corner collision from pole in Singapore ended in retirement.
But Hamilton thinks that Vettel can learn from 2017, just as he himself has from more difficult seasons.
“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,” Hamilton 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.”
Hamilton says that it is only by taking advantage of these small weaknesses in his rival that he took his fourth world title.
“Pressure points, weak points – you just keep your foot down, keep the pressure on and when the other shows no sign of weakness that’s definitely difficult.
“Look at [tennis stars Roger] Federer and [Rafael] Nadal, at some point in the game one will see a slight weakness in the other – even if just half a percent.
“That’s what they try to capitalise on and which makes the difference, and that’s really how it has been this year.”
