Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton hailed Sebastian Vettel on Thursday as his favorite Formulation One rival through the years.

With out mentioning former Mercedes staff mate Nico Rosberg, who beat the Briton to the 2016 title in a fierce and sometimes bitter battle between the pair, Hamilton praised the ex-Ferrari driver.

The pair appeared collectively in a digital information convention forward of the weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Italy’s Imola circuit, with four-times champion Vettel now driving for Aston Martin.

Each have been requested to call their favorite rivalry in Formulation One historical past.

“I’ve obtained a extremely dangerous reminiscence however I will say mine and Seb’s battles are my favorite to this point,” mentioned Hamilton, the game’s most profitable driver of all time, whose fundamental rival is now Purple Bull’s Max Verstappen.

“Realizing that I used to be racing in opposition to an unimaginable driver, and never solely that however an incredible man in Seb…and we have been racing in opposition to one other staff, he was at Ferrari who have been very sturdy on the time.

“It took quite a bit out of each of us in that time frame, to stay centered, to ship weekend in, weekend out. While it was a troublesome interval for us, I believe it in all probability introduced us nearer as properly as a result of the respect we now have between us is large.”

Vettel, who gained his titles with Purple Bull from 2010-13 and has struggled for type in recent times, was runner-up to Hamilton as a Ferrari driver within the 2017 and 2018 championships.

The German selected the late Nineties battles between Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen in addition to the epic earlier clashes between champions Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost for his or her depth and character variations.

“Again then there was I believe a sure depth as a result of folks weren’t as tolerant as they’re immediately and doubtless not as mature. There was loads of bitterness and hatred as properly,” he mentioned.

“We have come a great distance since then to possibly not have these intense fights any extra, largely off the monitor. I believe on monitor the fights are nonetheless very intense however you’ll in all probability not see one thing like that any extra sooner or later.”

Hamilton mentioned the rivalry with Verstappen, who might wreck the 36-year-old’s bid for a report eighth title this yr, was completely different to that with Vettel.

“He would not have the background that Seb has however he is clearly obtained the possibility of being a future champion. Whether or not that is now or later relies on the job finally that the staff and I do.”