Hamilton is 'clear favourite' for championship - Mansell

Nigel Mansell believes that Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are the 'clear favourites' for the 2018 driver's and constructor's world championship titles, but retains a hope that Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren can emerge as bigger competitors this campaign so there is some more 'exciting racing'.

Hamilton has now won four titles, while Mercedes are going for their fifth in a row, and Mansell thinks that they will only improve going into 2018, making them the obvious favourites for glory again.

"There is no question that Lewis and Mercedes are the clear favourites again," Mansell told Press Association Sport.

"Lewis has got many more years in him if he has got the appetite, and I can see no reason why he cannot win a few more world championships and set the bar very high for the future.

"I just hope for the good of Formula One that Ferrari, Red Bull and even McLaren can put a challenge to Mercedes so we can have some exciting racing.

"You mustn't underestimate the great job that Ferrari did last year - although they had problems and Sebastian had a few races that went the wrong way - without their tremendous strive to win the championship it wouldn't have been as exciting as it was.

"I hope they continued in that vein over the winter, and hopefully Red Bull have found some more power from their Renault engine, too."

Hamilton is yet to sign a new contract with Mercedes, with his current deal running out at the end of this season, but Mansell admits he will be surprised if his compatriot does not put pen to paper soon and extend his stay with the Silver Arrows.

"I would be very surprised if Lewis did not sign a new deal with Mercedes," Former F1 champion Mansell added.

"But if Red Bull or Ferrari were to do something special over the winter by making the jump over Mercedes, and then offer Lewis an incredible deal, who knows?

"At the moment however, Lewis has the world at his feet, he is in the best car and at the best team, so why would you want to change it?

"Some people in their careers are very privileged to be in a strong position and Lewis is one of those because he can afford to be patient. When the time is right for him, he will sign on the dotted line."