"If I hung up my gloves and was just a fan I'd want to see the two of us up against each other," admits Hamilton of fellow 42-race victor
Tuesday 13 October 2015 10:28, UK
Lewis Hamilton says he is "super excited" about the looming prospect of a direct title fight with Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel in 2016.
The pair are the most successful active drivers in F1 and Hamilton tied the German for third on the all-time list of race winners with his 42nd victory in Sunday's Russian GP. The win moved Hamilton to the brink of his third world title, while four-time champion Vettel moved ahead of Sochi retiree Nico Rosberg into second place in the standings.
Despite Mercedes wrapping up this year's Constructors' Championship with four rounds to spare, the team are already bracing themselves for an increased challenge from Ferrari next year on the back of the Italian marque's big step forward in 2015.
And should that materialise, then Hamilton is eager to go head-to-head with Vettel.
"If I hung up my gloves and was just a fan I would want to see the two of us up against each other," he admitted. "I am super excited to do that."
Despite both starting their F1 careers in 2007, and being just two years apart in age, Hamilton and Vettel's relationship off the track has been noticeably warmer this season with the pair regularly seen joking with each other on the podium - which they have shared on nine occasions this year - and in the post-session press conferences.
"Sebastian is an original - what you see is what you get," Hamilton added. "He is a great driver, and a good personality. He is a fun lad and I am looking forward to racing him for many more years."
Were Hamilton to complete what now seems inevitable and clinch the third Drivers' Championship of his career, he would start next season just one title behind Vettel.
However, despite a 10th race win of 2015 being enough to see off his two German rivals at next week's United States GP in Austin, Hamilton insists he isn't seeing it as 'job done' yet.
"I can't believe that I have that many points and that gap," Hamilton said of his 66-point lead over Vettel. "I've never had that, ever.
"But I'm still aware that there's a lot of points available. Provided things go to plan, I should be in a good position. But you can never say never, so I've got to keep my head down and try to go and grab all the rest of them."
Don't miss Wednesday night's F1 Midweek Report for analysis of the Russian GP and all the latest talking points in the sport. GP2 team owner Trevor Carlin and F1 Racing magazine editor Anthony Rowlinson join Natalie Pinkham in the studio at 8.30pm on Sky Sports F1
