That’s the verdict of Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle, who offered his take in the build-up to tonight’s Mexican Grand Prix.
Mercedes’ Hamilton and Ferrari’s Vettel have battled it out at the top of the Drivers’ Standings once again this year as they go in search of their fourth and fifth titles respectively.
Hamilton can end the title race this evening though if he finishes in fifth or higher, regardless of how Vettel performs.
Brundle has spoken about both drivers’ seasons ahead of their showdown at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
And he’s suggested Hamilton would still have the edge on Vettel if he and the German were team-mates.
Brundle said: “I think they have both done an incredible job.
“Lewis has had better reliability, the cars have had similar speed.
“I’m not a sport psychologist but I have watched these bandits for a while and I picked something up from that [Sky Sports] interview with Lewis. Saying ‘I woke up hoping to have a good start’ – the start is all in your head as much as anything else. He’s obviously got some concerns sitting there.
“If Vettel was in the same Mercedes alongside who would take it? I think over a season, Lewis would have a bit more speed.”
If Hamilton fails to wrap up the F1 championship tonight, the title race will continue in Brazil on Sunday November 12.