'Being at the top is what you strive for' - Sebastian Vettel doubts whether Lewis Hamilton is 'fired up' for F1

Sebastian Vettel has doubted Lewis Hamilton’s current excitement for Formula 1 due to the seven-time world champion’s downturn in form. Hamilton sits sixth in the Drivers’ Standings with 50 points, 75 adrift of leader Max Verstappen in an underwhelming start to the campaign, following finishing third, 10th, fourth, 13th, sixth, fifth and eighth-place finishes in the opening seven races.

Ad/> «When you get to know the sport in the way I have done, and Lewis has done, winning and being at the top is what you strive for,» Vettel said. Azerbaijani Grand PrixHamilton may think 'career is over' after difficult season, says ButtonYESTERDAY AT 10:29 «Does it excite you to finish eighth, or 12th or 13th? No, it doesn't, when you know you have been first so many times — and in Lewis' case more than any other guy.

»George [Russell] comes in. He spent three years at Williams suffering to death at the rear of the field, scoring the odd point, and then suddenly he is eighth or 12th and life for him is amazing.

«Everybody is different, but you need to be fair from the outside and say, look, is Lewis naturally going to be as fired up about finishing eighth as George probably is? No, and I would be surprised if he was.» ‘Unfinished business’ for Verstappen ahead of Azerbaijan Grand Prix Hamilton may think 'career is over' after difficult season, says Button It has also been a frustrating campaign for Vettel, who is down in 15th and only scored five points so far after finishing 12th last season. It is a dramatic fall from grace for the German, whose last Grand Prix victory was nearly three years ago.