Sky F1 pundits: Hamilton v Vettel, Mercedes v Ferrari, title duels ahead
Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert expecting Ferrari to be closer to Mercedes in 2016; Vettel says "things are looking good for next year"
Monday 2 November 2015 11:19, UK
World champions Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have to brace themselves for an "almost inevitable" full-on title battle with Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari in future seasons, according to Sky Sports F1's Damon Hill.
Two weeks after Mercedes wrapped up their second successive Constructors' Championship, Hamilton ensured the team would also ended the year with the drivers' title again after he clinched the third crown of his career with a last-gasp race victory in an epic US GP in Austin.
Rejuvenated Ferrari are the only team other than Mercedes to win races this year, but the Italian team have scored 200 fewer points with three races still to go.
However, after Ferrari made a big jump in form over last winter, the Sky F1 pundits are expecting an even closer battle at the front between 2015's pacesetters next year.
"It's coming - it's almost inevitable," Hill, the 1996 world champion, replied when asked if a bona fide Mercedes v Ferrari title fight was looming.
"Mercedes have dominated for a few years now and I think we can clearly see signs that Ferrari are closing that gap. I don't think it's going to be quite so straightforward next year."
Hamilton and Vettel have now won seven of the last eight Drivers' Championships between them and are in F1's all-time top-five for race wins, poles and titles.
The Briton said at the Russian GP that he would relish a direct title duel with his Ferrari rival in future - and Sky F1's Johnny Herbert says it's the battle the sport wants to see.
"They've got to race together as well. Lewis is always talking about wanting to race his team-mate or Ferrari to give him a good battle next year," Herbert said.
"That's brilliant for us - we want that - and then we will see some absolutely awesome racing, just like today."
Vettel himself admits that Hamilton deserves to win the world title this year, but he is out to stop the Briton equalling his tally of four championships in 2016.
"Congratulations to Lewis, he has done a great job all year. We are getting closer, maybe next year," Vettel said after the race.
"I don't have a crystal ball so I can't see what the future will bring. We are working very hard and we are making good progress, things are looking good for next year, but we have to wait and see when we get on track."
With Vettel having committed to a long-term project at Ferrari, and Hamilton extending his Mercedes contract by three more years in May, the likelihood is that the pair will continue to vie for F1's top honours in the forthcoming seasons.
But asked who he would back to emerge on top if they were ever paired together in the same team, three-time champion Sir Jackie Stewart told Sky F1: "Right now Lewis is the fastest driver in Formula 1."
