Hamilton 'inconsistency' gives Vettel & others a chance - Rosberg

Nico Rosberg says Lewis Hamilton's "inconsistency" can give the Formula 1 world champion's rivals hope of beating him in 2018. Rosberg is the only man to pip Hamilton to the title in the hybrid era, having taken his sole drivers' crown in 2016 before retiring.

Hamilton beat Sebastian Vettel to the title last season, the Ferrari man suffering a slump between the Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix which allowed the Silver Arrows to capitalise.

Competition is expected to be fierce this year, with Red Bull pair Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen tipped to muscle in on the fight at the front early on in the campaign.

Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas has also spoken of his determination to last the pace this season and Rosberg says his four-time champion former colleague is not unbeatable over the course of a season.

"The weakness Lewis has is a bit of inconsistency. He has these periods when he is just not on it," Rosberg told Sky Sports.

"If you are able to pounce in those periods and really make the most of it, you can keep him down for a while longer. You have to make the most of it, absolutely, and Sebastian did that pretty well last year.

"When Lewis has his good weekends he is almost unbeatable, he is unbelievably fast and maybe the best guy out there.

"The only way to beat Lewis is to be 100 per cent with everything, do the perfect season. Otherwise there is no chance."

Bottas recently talked up the benefit he can gain from having members of Rosberg's title-winning team on his side in 2018 and the German has backed his successor to enjoy even greater success after picking up three race wins in his maiden Mercedes campaign.

"I hope that Valtteri can be even closer to [Lewis] this year, because last year he showed some really big flashes of brilliance but it just lacked in consistency," Rosberg added.

"I think he can do it, I think he can really ramp it up even further and get very, very close. That is what we want to see, we want to see a good internal battle there.

"Then Sebastian has to be the next one as a big challenger for Lewis. For Kimi [Raikkonen], looking at last year, it will not be so easy but maybe he can find a little bit extra this year.

"Then the Red Bull guys it depends on their car. If the car is good, those two are some of the most exciting prospects and when they are up in front there is always action happening."