Vettel doesn’t want to be my teammate - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton says Sebastian Vettel would not move to Mercedes to be his teammate as the German would not receive preferential treatment.

While Mercedes holds a 39-point lead in the constructors' championship and has won six races so far this season, Vettel is 14 points clear in the drivers' standings, having won all four races for Ferrari this year. The four-time world champion is out of contract at the end of the season, and while Valtteri Bottas also has yet to sign a new deal at Mercedes, Hamilton believes his team will want to retain the Finn.

Related Stories

"I think it's highly unlikely that [Vettel] would be here," Hamilton said when asked if he would relish going up against Vettel in the same car. "I don't think he wants to be my teammate... But I'm always game to race whoever it is and racing against the best drivers is always a great thing.

"I think the team is in a very, very good [place]... the last race is actually one of the best examples of how great the team is currently. Coming into this season I haven't changed a single thing that I do but there is a new element in the team and it works.

"So I don't believe any of the bosses or any individual at the team is unhappy with what is currently in place, so I find it unlikely they would change that."

Asked why Vettel would not want to race him in the same car, Hamilton explained: "I'm stating the obvious, but I know he doesn't want to be my teammate. He wouldn't be in the position he is in now in terms of how the team operates if he was here."

With Vettel having spoken about the progress Ferrari has made in developing its car this year during the test in Hungary, Hamilton warned Mercedes is determined to fight back from the Scuderia's one-two at the Hungaroring.

"I think we would generally like to just deal with our issues internally and do our talking on the track. We don't really want to talk about it. Obviously we know what is happening with our car and where it can be better but we don't need to big it up or down play it. Just got to do the job and let them do their talking outside. We're here to deliver some special performances in the next races."