Hamilton names biggest three threats to championship

Lewis Hamilton has revealed who he believes are the three biggest threats to him retaining the Formula One world championship, and it is Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen, and Fernando Alonso who fit the bill as the most likely contenders for the title.

Hamilton is the current world champion after winning his fourth title in 2017 at the expense of Vettel, who finished second. Verstappen is considered to be the most talented young driver to come through the ranks in years, while Alonso will be hoping to have a much better year with McLaren now that they have ditched Honda engines in favour of Renault.

The Mercedes man has named these three drivers, and himself, as the best four performers on the circuit.

"We're the four strongest drivers. I really hope we are all in the fight next year. It would be friggin' amazing.

"You look at them all slightly differently,

"They all have different characteristics. Sebastian, for example, from this year, you could say: 'Give more space.' - not in a negative way.

"Max takes a lot of risks. Also, you have to give [him] more space, but he is more inexperienced than the other guys.

"Fernando - toughest driver there is, so you have to keep that utmost respect for each other, but you've really got to play your cards right to utilise the racecraft.

"His racecraft is mighty, but Max's racecraft is very impressive [too]."

Hamilton went on to say that he thinks Verstappen will improve over the next few years to become his rival, having only been in Formula One for three seasons.

"He's doing wonderful things, but he is going to grow so much over the next 10 years," Hamilton said.

"I don't think it will be a problem, it'll just be freaking tough [to beat him]. Wouldn't that be a fight? Even I'd pay to see that."