Vettel won't seek mental help in Hamilton fight

Sebastian Vettel sees no reason to hire a sports psychologist in an attempt t avoid the errors which have cost him ground in the title race with Lewis Hamilton in 2018. Despite Ferrari being accepted to have delivered the fastest car in 2018, Vettel trails his rival by 40 points with six races of the season remaining.

On-track errors have seen Vettel leave points in Azerbaijan, France, Germany and Italy among others, while Ferrari's strategy has also been found wanting on occasion to open the door for Hamilton and Mercedes.

Romain Grosjean has spoken openly and positively about the impact that working with a psychologist has had on his career after he was banned in 2012 following a series of crashes, but Vettel does not expect to follow the Frenchman's route.

Vettel told Auto Bild: "Of course I have pressure, but most of the time I put it on myself. If you know what you can do and you do not achieve it, then you are not satisfied."

On the prospect of hiring a mental coach, Vettel added: "I find the idea very interesting, but I have not met a person that I think can help. I've already researched it a bit, so the whole topic has not passed me by.

"When you have stress, you need to find balance. I have developed things that work for me. And I have enough self-discipline, so as not to be confused. "

Vettel has attracted praise from sections of Italy's motorsport press in recent weeks as Ferrari hopes have flickered, but the German says it does not affect him.

"In my spare time I hardly read articles about Formula One, more about football," he said.

"I do not let criticism get to me and that saves me dealing with it. But generally, my motto is: 'You're never as good as people say and you're never as bad as they say'."

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