Defending champ Lewis Hamilton insists he has a mindset similar to Roger Federer

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time of the week on the final day of the opening test in Barcelona on Thursday. Pic/AFP

Lewis Hamilton likened himself to Roger Federer as he declared he should have no problems in beating Sebastian Vettel to this year's F1 world championship. Hamilton ominously ended the opening test in Barcelona on top of the time sheets with the fastest lap of the week. The British driver, 33, is gearing up for his assault on a fifth championship to join only Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher as drivers who have won the F1 title on more than four occasions.

Sebastian Vettel

Vettel upped the ante by insisting that he is ready to end Mercedes' dominance by clinching Ferrari's first championship in more than a decade. But Hamilton, who produced some of the finest performances of his career to see off Vettel's challenge last season, is confident of delivering the same punishment in 2018. "I don't focus too much on anyone else and my mindset is that if I am at my best then I should have no problems," Hamilton said.

Roger Federer

"That is how I will approach the season. If I am well prepared, I am the fittest I can be. If I have the most energy, feel healthy, come with the right approach and work hard, I believe I won't have any problems.

"It is the same for a tennis player at their best. I am sure if you ask Federer he will believe that if he is playing hard and feels great, there is no one that can touch him. You have to be convinced that is the case. I don't prepare by hoping the other guy has issues so I can capitalise. "I want him to be at his best so it is more painful when you out-perform them."

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