LONDON, England, CMC – Formula One star Lewis Hamilton has admitted to Sebastian Vettel’s superiority and says the German is making the defence of his world title look “too easy”.
Vettel won the Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park on Sunday after starting on pole for the fourth successive race.
The Red Bull driver leads the standings with 93 points with a big gap back to Hamilton in second on 59 and Mark Webber third on 55.
“Thirty-four points is a very big gap at the moment,” said Hamilton.
“But what can I do? He’s not really the guy we’re racing. It’s all the other guys – (Mark) Webber, Jenson (Button), Fernando (Alonso), (Felipe) Massa. That’s really where the fight is because it’s too easy.
“He was cruising in [Sunday’s] race, for sure, and I’ve got to be on the ragged edge to try and get every little step I can possibly get.”
Hamilton, whose McLaren has struggled to keep up with Vettel and Webber’s Red Bulls, finished in fourth.
Vettel’s win, meanwhile, was his third in four events this season and it forced Hamilton to invoke memories of the great Michael Schumacher’s domination of the sport.
“At the moment it’s very, very similar to when Schumacher was dominating,” said Hamilton, who has family ties to the Caribbean island of Grenada.
“Now Sebastian is dominating – pole position at all four races this season and he’s nearly won all four.”
Hamilton, who won his World title in 2008, remained upbeat that Vettel could be caught.
“The gap is only a win and a bit, so for example if he doesn’t have a good race in Barcelona (May 22) and we win we’re back in the fight again,” he pointed out.
“It’s easy to say now it’s all doom and gloom, but it’s not at all. There are many races to go, and we’re not a million miles off with our race pace, it’s just qualifying. If we can get the car on pole position then we’ll be smiling.”
