Sebastian Vettel has mentioned that it was Lewis Hamilton’s racing IQ that helped him beat Max Verstappen to the Bahrain Grand Prix final month.
Talking in entrance of the press forward of this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, Vettel, sitting alongside Hamilton, praised the seven-time champion for profitable the primary race of the 2021 season.
Hamilton and Mercedes got here out trumps within the strategic battle at Bahrain after the pitstops, holding off a charging Verstappen who in the end had the sooner automobile within the race.
The Dutchman overtook Hamilton for the lead however, in doing so, was deemed to have exceeded observe limits and needed to give the place again.
After a disappointing debut with Aston Martin, Vettel defined that he had watched the highlights after the race.
“I feel Max was sooner, he had higher tyres on the finish of the race, however Lewis was smarter and drove nicely and stored his head down and did what he needed to do,” he mentioned. “I feel he had, in that regard, nothing to lose and all the things to win and he got here out and gained so it speaks for him.”
Verstappen had managed the weekend’s proceedings up till the latter levels of the race, sweeping the apply periods and qualifying.
“Max I feel had an opportunity, he was sooner, ought to have gained the race, didn’t win the race and Lewis gained the race,” Vettel continued.
“So I feel in that case it’s actually Lewis that gained the race.”
Heading into Bahrain, Hamilton and Mercedes had spoken overtly on their perceived drawback to rivals Red Bull.
The struggle on the entrance appears nearer than ever, and that is one thing that the Briton says he’ll relish.
“I had a constructive feeling, naturally with the end result,” mentioned Hamilton.
“It was a really tough weekend for us. It’s clear that Crimson Bull have began off actually, rather well and with a fantastic bundle and Max is driving rather well.
“It’s arrange for an excellent season forward. In fact we don’t know what to anticipate shifting forwards into these subsequent races with completely different temperatures and completely different observe surfaces but it surely’s going to be enjoyable a method or one other.”