Formula 1 points leader Lewis Hamilton has asserted that this year’s title fight remains a three-way scrap, and says he is “loving” the nature of the 2018 battle.
Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull have each taken two wins from the opening six events courtesy of Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo respectively, while all three teams have topped qualifying.
It marks the most competitive squabble at the front-end of the Formula 1 grid since the championship adopted hybrid engines in 2014.
Hamilton currently leads Vettel in the standings by 14 points, with Monaco victor Ricciardo a further 24 points back, closely followed by Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen.
Hamilton says the situation remains wide open and is revelling in the “biggest challenge” he has faced in trying to ensure he and Mercedes retain their titles.
“It definitely is a three-way fight,” said Hamilton. “Sebastian still is… Ferrari I think still are the strongest.
“Their car was quick [in Monaco], their car was working quite well through the whole season so far and they have dropped the ball a few times and we’ve capitalised on that.
“So we are further ahead than we would be if everyone had done the same job, if you know what I mean.
“But I still feel that they’re the strongest and Sebastian has been doing the strongest job. But it is a three-way battle.
“I think Red Bull potentially have got an upgrade coming at some stage, engine-wise I think at the next race, so it will be interesting to see their performance and they will continue to get stronger through the year.
“I’m telling you, we’re doing everything we can to win the race and then the Red Bulls win it and then the Ferraris win it and then we win. It’s great to have that.
“I personally love it and it’s challenging me more than I can express. It’s the biggest challenge that I’ve had with my boys, but I’m loving that challenge.
“I’m loving having to dig super deep in my technical knowledge and learning more and how I can communicate, how I can really pick the right set-up and get it right for the weekend – all these different things. I’m enjoying that.”
