'Hamilton would beat Vettel at Mercedes or Ferrari'

Lewis Hamilton's performances in 2018 would have been good enough to beat Sebastian Vettel whether he drove for Mercedes or Ferrari, according to Jolyon Palmer. Hamilton secured his fifth world title in Mexico last weekend, having surged clear of Vettel in the second part of the campaign.

A crucial seven-race stretch between Germany and Japan saw Hamilton win six races to leave Vettel for dust as the German counted the cost of errors on the track and from his Ferrari team.

Ferrari have closed the gap in terms of pace to the Silver Arrow this year – perhaps even surpassing them at times – but the Mercedes package has once again won out.

However, former Renault driver Palmer believes that Hamilton has been the difference, rather than the machinery.

Palmer wrote for BBC Sport: "Vettel is a world-class driver. He has won four titles himself and has been well on top of team-mate Raikkonen. But this year Hamilton has exposed his flaws, while driving flawlessly himself.

Take a walk with @LewisHamilton along the Sky Bridge that joins the iconic PETRONAS Towers in Kuala Lumpur, to hear how his relationship with the Malaysian people and the @PET_Motorsports family has become stronger with every #F1 season... #PETRONASmotorsports pic.twitter.com/TA2BqPu6Ka — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) October 31, 2018

"Vettel had all the pressure and kept cracking. Major errors at the French, German, Italian, Japanese and US Grands Prix cost him. Hamilton was unflappable.

"Vettel could have won the title this year, given his turn of speed and the form of Ferrari.

"He and Hamilton started the season with four titles apiece, and nothing to choose between the cars. There was plenty to choose between the drivers once it all panned out.

"Hamilton would have won the championship in either car, with the form he has been in this season."

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