Lewis Hamilton handed 'no doubt' boost by former F1 rival

Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel has backed Lewis Hamilton to succeed at Ferrari following his difficult start at the Italian squad. Hamilton has tasted some success at the opening six rounds as he emerged victorious in the China sprint race before finishing in the top three in the Miami sprint outing. However, qualifying and grand prix pace have been a struggle for the 40-year-old at his new team. Vettel was once a core member of Ferrari's set-up as he raced for the squad from 2015 until the end of 2020. Although it has gone through various changes since his departure, Vettel understands the challenges that come with adapting to the Ferrari lifestyle. “I don't know everyone there anymore, so I don't have complete insight,” Vettel told Kronen Zeitung . “But it's obviously a big change – certainly for him [Hamilton] too. Ferrari has its own rules, and the culture in this team is different.” As Hamilton continues to work to get comfortable within the team, Vettel, who contested against the Briton in several F1 title fights, has backed him to succeed. “I know they're doing everything they can to make this transition easier for him and ensure his success,” Vettel added. “And if anyone can do it, it's Lewis. There's no doubt about his abilities.”