Vettel 'nervous' against me - Hamilton

Four-time world champion Lewis Hamilton believes that title rival Sebastian Vettel was 'nervous' throughout the 2017 campaign and that the German was under 'extreme pressure' to try and win back the championship that he lifted in four consecutive seasons from 2010 until 2013.

Hamilton was able to put his foot down in the second half of the season, winning five out of six races in a stretch from the Belgian Grand Prix through to the United States, eventually clinching victory in Mexico with two races to go.

Until that point it appeared that the Englishman would be pushed all the way, and Hamilton feels that external factors mounted against the Ferrari team, in particular Vettel, allowing him to take advantage.

He said to Stuttgarter Nachrichten: "Seb showed more nerves this season than before.

"None of us are superman, and everyone can fail under extreme pressure.

"Some reached that point sooner, others later. It's like tennis. If Federer plays against Nadal, one waits for a small weakness in the other, because half a percent is enough."

Hamilton used that extra edge to his utmost advantage, but is wary that Vettel is likely to be more determined than ever to put up a legitimate challenge to Mercedes all the way to the end of the season.

However, he feels he is more than ready to meet the challenge and that he is not scared of what the other drivers are capable of, adding:

"You saw it at the end of the season. Suddenly I had no more pressure and was not very good. I compare this season with a 100 sprint by Usain Bolt.

"He often gets a bad start but then he comes back.

"I'm assuming that he [Vettel] recovers his strength for next year, but I'm not afraid,"