Formula One frontrunner Lewis Hamilton has denied reports linking Ferrari star Sebastian Vettel with a move to join him at Mercedes at the end of this season.
Hamilton is currently second to Vettel in the 2017 Formula 1 standings and trails the German by 14 points, while current Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas lies another 19 points adrift of the Briton.
Vettel is out of contract at the end of this season, but Hamilton doesn’t envision the four-time world champion joining him any time soon and said: “I know he doesn’t want to be my team-mate. He wouldn’t have the position he is in now in terms of how his team operates if he was here.”
The Mercedes star is referring to the difference in dynamic between the two teams; Vettel is prioritised as Ferrari’s top driver while Mercedes allow both Hamilton and Bottas to compete evenly.
Despite sitting off the Formula 1 standings, Hamilton is still the favourite to win this year’s championship at 8/11 (1.73) with BetVictor, with Vettel following close behind at 5/4 (2.25).
Image courtesy of Sky Sports.
2017 Formula One Title Odds
Lewis Hamilton: 8/11 (1.73)
Sebastian Vettel: 5/4 (2.25)
Valtteri Bottas: 20/1 (21.00)
Kimi Raikkonen: 1000/1 (1001.00)
Max Verstappen: 1000/1 (1001.00)
Daniel Ricciardo: 1000/1 (1001.00)