SUMMARY
- Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have built one of the most indestructible friendships in Formula 1.
- The two world champions have, however, come together on the track.
Formula 1 is a competitive sport that requires every driver to forget their friendships as soon as they get on the track and showcase their hunger for a race win. However, while these rivalries have broken some, they have also managed to mend the bridges between the two and made them friends. Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel did not start on the right foot but soon saw a special relationship unfold.
Hamilton and Vettel have shared a long history in F1 as they slowly got closer to one another. With the two legends sharing a spot on the tracks and battling till the end, they found a friendship that has lasted to this day. Although the German’s exit from the sport came around 2022 when he decided to spend more time with his kids, the Briton continued with his legacy.
Nevertheless, it was not always peace and love between the two, as their friendship only unfolded after one of the most intense fights they had on the tracks. The two have continued to show support for one another especially in taking on a more environmentally friendly lifestyle and adopting a greener and more sustainable life.
The intense Hamilton-Vettel battle that ignited a friendship
While Hamilton and Vettel’s relationship has cooled off and become a more friendly one with the two occasionally grabbing dinner together. However, their relationship wasn’t always as cozy and reached a point of intense battle that brought the two closer. It was back when the Briton was fighting for two more titles in 2017 and 2018 when the two got on each other’s nerves as Vettel tried his luck with Ferrari.
💥 The moment when two title rivals collided #AzerbaijanGP 🇦🇿 #F1 pic.twitter.com/0zT8BI4w1U
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 25, 2017
It was during the Azerbaijan GP in 2018 when the German accused Hamilton of brake-testing him during the Safety car. This angered the driver as he pulled next to the Mercedes and made contact before the restart of the race. Nevertheless, this did not sit right with both the drivers as the four-time champion was only angry while the seven-time champion was left confused and frustrated.
On this day in 2018, Sebastian Vettel went out of his way to congratulate the Mercedes team after Lewis Hamilton won his 5th world title 👏 pic.twitter.com/mFWOha6njk
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) October 28, 2021
However, this intense moment brought the two drivers closer and soon became the reason for their friendship. Since then the two champions have battled out with each other and shown respect towards the other for their brilliance at the sport. Vettel has time and time again mentioned Hamilton and the respect he has towards the Briton and what he has achieved in the sport.
Hamilton has also talked about the 4-time championship-winning German in a positive light and mentioned how their friendship only grew. He talked about Vettel standing up for the driver when he was experiencing racial abuse in the sport. The Briton also saw a shoulder to lean on when he was on his way to achieving more in the sport and finding his journey lonely.
Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to Sebastian Vettel’s exit
Lewis Hamilton just like much more was surprised to be greeted by Vettel’s exit from the sport. After having won four championships with Red Bull and winning multiple podiums and races with Ferrari, his move to Aston Martin saw him fall the rankings. Nevertheless, his best friend in the sport soon left Hamilton with only positive words for the German.
He said, “I think he’s just a really beautiful human being and I’m grateful to have been here in a time that he was racing. Watching his World Championships was impressive. I’m sad to have arrived today and seen the news, but I know whatever he goes and does beyond this is going to be even better.”
Soon Vettel was seen making donuts for the last time in the sport and with plans of not reutrning soon. However, the German has continued to have a close relationship with the sport and is now working with the FIA to make the sport more sustainable going forward. The champion has also been working with charities to save bees and only recently made yet another bee house at Suzuka.
Vettel’s role in F1 has now turned to making the sport more environmentally friendly. However, the German has time and time again mentioned wanting to join the sport again and battle with the rest of the grid. Although he has his conditions to join back the sport. The condition is a seat at Red Bull and another chance at winning a championship.
Hamilton picks his battle with Vettel as his favorite
The Briton has achieved a lot in his career in the 13 years that he has spent in the sport. From winning seven World Championship titles to having 103 race wins and 104 podiums, he has made records that remain unbroken. However, throughout his career, his achievements also came with a lot of rivalries that he overcame and soon surpassed to secure his wins.
Nevertheless, one of his rivalries stuck with him as the two drivers formed a sweet friendship out of the rivalry. During Hamilton’s run to have one of the most successful careers in F1, Vettel had become his only challenger to have taken away chances of the Briton’s win. The two continued to battle throughout Vettel’s time at Red Bull to win championships.
17 (tied with 18) – SEWIS [Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton] (514 votes, 0.6%) pic.twitter.com/zgQZ0ch5A5
— 🏎️ (@alonsocatorce) February 5, 2024
While their cutthroat competition kept the Briton on his toes, he enjoyed having the German’s company. He said, “I love tennis and I love watching Djokovic and Federer in finals. And what I admire is their consistency – one misplaced shot or the ball into the net can mean the whole game – and their concentration. Today, I felt like l had that type of battle. That’s the only way I can describe it.”
Hamilton described his battle with Vettel after the 2018 Azerbaijan as one of his favorites of all time. He enjoyed the thrill that followed and enjoyed having Vettel to fight it out with. Nevertheless, the two overcame the issue and soon became close friends and have continued to be so until now. Hamilton has also shown support for Vettel’s outside endeavors.