Sebastian Vettel has no chance of becoming a five-time champion this year if he doesn't cut out his recent costly mistakes, according to Nico Rosberg.
Vettel is now 30 points adrift of Lewis Hamilton in the championship standings, but just five races ago he was leading the Briton by eight points.
The title has swung five times this season already, but Vettel has his work cut out to close the gap – which has never been larger than it is now in 2018 – and Rosberg insists he won't be able to do that when he's making "so many mistakes".
"You cannot beat Lewis Hamilton to a championship by making so many mistakes, that’s a fact," Rosberg told Sky Sports F1. "So he’s got to sort that out, otherwise it’s not going to happen.
"Lewis is the benchmark out there. Surely he’s at the peak of his career, and it’s all going his way."
Vettel's latest mistake saw him collide with Hamilton at the start of the Italian GP, forcing him to the back of the pack whilst the Mercedes driver went on to win the race.
Vettel questioned Hamilton's move, but the stewards took no action and Rosberg believes the only person that can hold account for the clash is Vettel.
"Lewis has no fault, because he leaves plenty of space," Rosberg explained. "There is nothing you can blame him for.
"Sebastian runs too wide, gets into Lewis and spins out. That was the end of it, 110% Sebastian’s fault.
"It was an epic drive from Lewis, that’s why he’s considered one of the best out there – and one of the best of all time. He showed it again, in an inferior car.
"He nailed the start and got past Sebastian, made him [make] a huge mistake, which put him all the way back. Then he got Kimi [Raikkonen] as well. It doesn’t get better than that."
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