Hamilton given championship warning by Horner

Christian Horner has warned Lewis Hamilton that Sebastian Vettel will not give up on the driver's championship race until it is mathematically impossible for him to win, even though the Brit has a healthy 40-point lead ahead of his rival following his win in the Singapore Grand Prix.

The rivals have exchanged the lead in the championship race on a few occasions in 2018, but in latter races Hamilton has taken the initiative to make the first position his own, with Vettel lagging behind.

However, Horner, a former colleague of Vettel's, insists the driver will keep on fighting until the title is done and dusted.

“Usually he’s very good under pressure,” said Horner of the German.

“He certainly won’t give up, he was 40-odd points before down I think in 2012. But obviously it will be disappointing for him to have lost out to Lewis at this race.

“The Ferrari’s a very quick car. There’s still six races to go, 150 points available. Anything can still happen but Lewis is over a weekend and third place ahead.

"Obviously it looks like Lewis is in the driving seat now. He’s just got to be consistent to year-end. It’s going to be an uphill battle [for Ferrari] to get themselves back into it.”

Red Bull enjoyed a positive weekend at the Marina Bay Street Circuit with Max Verstappen gaining a podium place from second and Daniel Ricciardo finishing in sixth. Horner reckons the key moment from the Dutchman came when he ambitiously overtook Vettel following a pit.

“It was very aggressive on a track that’s difficult to overtake at,” the Red Bull boss continued.

“They obviously got caught on the out-lap with [Sergio] Perez and that cost Sebastian enough time in the middle sector for Max, with a very strong in-lap, to nail it.”

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