Hamilton wants to make it 'painful' for Vettel in 2018

Lewis Hamilton has said he wants to pip Sebastian Vettel to five Formula 1 drivers' title in the most "painful" way possible for the Ferrari man. The champion was quicker than anyone in the first pre-season test in Barcelona as Mercedes look to continue their dominance of recent years.

Vettel had looked odds-on for the crown at times last year, only for a three-race meltdown between Singapore and Japan to hand the initiative to Hamilton.

Mercedes have won the constructors' and drivers' titles in each of the four seasons of the hybrid era to date, having left the rest of the grid behind them at times.

But Ferrari's mastery of the new regulations in 2017 led to the closest fight in years - the kind of battle Hamilton relishes.

"I want him [Vettel] to be at his best because then it's more painful for them when you do out-perform them," Hamilton said.

"I'm sure if you asked [Roger] Federer, he will truly believe that if he's trained hard and arrived feeling great, there's no-one that can touch him.

"You have to be convinced that will be the case. That's what you work towards. I don't prepare myself and then hope that the next guy has issues so I can capitalise on them."

Hamilton's best time of 1:19.333 in Barcelona this week topped his quickest lap from both pre-season tests a year ago and he is confident he is entering 2018 in good shape.

"For my mindset, if I am at my best then I should have no problems," he said.

Times and lap counts from a very productive Thursday at @Circuitcat_eng

Almost the entire field got a feel for the conditions ????#F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/BFUSkd0j2Z — Formula 1 (@F1) March 1, 2018

"If I prepare myself in the best way and I am as fit as I can be and I have the most energy and I'm feeling healthy, I've come with the right approach as I'm working hard, then I truly believe I won't have any problems."