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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteLewis Hamilton’s public tributes show that he valued Sebastian Vettel for more than the championships they contested: Hamilton admired Vettel’s willingness to stand up for his beliefs, called him a legend of the sport, and continued to endorse him after their rivalry ended. Their relationship was not simply a story of friendship replacing hostility. It combined fierce competition with mutual respect, including after a tense on-track incident.
Hamilton admired Vettel’s values as much as his record
When Vettel announced in July 2022 that he would retire at the end of the season, Hamilton’s response went beyond praise for a fellow champion. In remarks reported by Formula 1 on 29 July 2022, Hamilton said: “I’m very proud of how he’s stood up for what he believes in for others, even at the cost of himself.”
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Hamilton also called Vettel “such a legend of our sport,” adding: “When we talk about legends, there’s not many that I count as legends in reality, but he’s at the top of that.” The emphasis on Vettel’s convictions is what makes the tribute especially personal: Hamilton was describing qualities he respected, not just listing victories.
Respect survived a real rivalry and a tense moment
The pair competed against each other in championship fights, and their rivalry could be sharp. The clearest test of their relationship came at the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, after Vettel drove alongside Hamilton’s car and made contact under the safety car. At the FIA press conference on 6 July, Hamilton said the incident had not changed their dynamic, that he retained “the utmost respect” for Vettel, and that he accepted Vettel’s apology.
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Vettel acknowledged his mistake. He said: “I think the respect that we have for each other on-track, off-track helps us in this regard.” The exchange, preserved in the FIA’s Austrian Grand Prix press conference transcript, shows that respect did not mean there had never been friction; it helped them move forward after it.
Vettel also regarded Hamilton as his toughest rival
The admiration ran both ways. In an interview reported by Formula 1 on 14 October 2022, Vettel identified Hamilton as the toughest rival he had encountered, particularly during Vettel’s Ferrari years: “Lewis, especially when I was at Ferrari. Lewis has always been right up there.” Vettel also named Fernando Alonso as an earlier rival.
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Hamilton and Vettel’s competition was consequential as well as personal. Formula 1 described Vettel’s career in November 2022 as 299 races, 57 pole positions, 53 wins and four world titles. In an April 2024 account, it summarized his totals as almost 300 starts, 53 wins, 122 podiums, 57 poles and more than 3,000 points. These are two descriptions from different Formula 1 reports, with the later one rounding the starts figure.
Hamilton mixed banter with warmth at Vettel’s final race
At Vettel’s final Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend in November 2022, Hamilton joked that Vettel had been “a bit of a nuisance [during our title fights]!” He also praised their battles and joked that Formula 1 might draw Vettel back. The teasing captured the competitive side of their history without cancelling the esteem Hamilton had expressed when Vettel announced his retirement.
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Hamilton’s respect continued after their direct competition ended
In April 2024, as Mercedes considered its options for the seat Hamilton would leave, he said he would welcome Vettel. Hamilton called him “an amazing option for the team,” citing his championships and values, and said he could help take the team forward. Formula 1 reported the remarks on 4 April 2024. It was Hamilton’s endorsement, not an announcement that Vettel would join Mercedes.
So, what did Vettel mean to Hamilton? Hamilton’s own public words support a clear answer: Vettel was a formidable rival whose conduct and convictions earned Hamilton’s exceptional respect. They establish esteem and admiration, but they do not reveal private feelings beyond what Hamilton chose to say publicly.
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