Lewis Hamilton “worried" about Sebastian Vettel
- Bevan Youl
Lewis Hamilton has said that he was “worried about” Sebastian Vettel while he was being outperformed by Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc but was delighted for him to win again in Singapore.
It took more than a year for Vettel to win again in Formula 1 as a early pitstop in Singapore gave him the lead ahead of his teammate.
But Leclerc has been on top form since returning from the summer break, claiming four pole positions in a row, converting two of them into wins in Spa and Monza.
Mercedes’ Hamilton says he knows what Vettel is going through with questions coming up about his position at Ferrari while Leclerc is performances are increasing.
"I actually worried about him," Hamilton told Channel 4.
"I do know him very well. We're part of the same generation and I just know how it is to be on the back foot, having people talk negatively about you, have people write you off and also feel that way within the team that the other guy is getting all the energy.
"I know the psychological turmoil that you go through as a driver and as an athlete. I know Seb has been going through that.
"His team-mate has been going on the up. I've spoken to super, super high up people who say 'Seb is written off, that's him done'.
"But now it does appear they have put all their eggs in one basket [at Ferrari] where Seb used to be the number one driver that they would always choose.
"Now, it appears, for some time that it's now all Charles and they're banking the future on him. I think you will see things evolve over the next year or so that will show you that is the case."
Despite the future of Ferrari looking to be placed on Leclerc the Brit was delight for his fellow generation driver to win in Singapore.
"To see him have that win [in Singapore], even though I didn't win the race, I still felt really good because something good came to someone who is actually a decent person and a super dedicated individual, and is not written off,” he added.