Hamilton won't play with Vettel's mind

Lewis Hamilton wants to beat the best Sebastian Vettel has to offer and won't resort to mind games to try and undermine the German out of the car.

It's early days still but the 2017 season is turning into a full head-on battle between Mercedes' Hamilton and Vettel's Ferrari.

As worthy opponents, both drivers have expressed their utmost respect for the other and the relationship has proved friendly up to now.

But as the battle rages and the stakes are raised, a well-disposed and amicable state of affairs can turn sour with one on-track contact too many, ultimately testing each man's psyche.

"I take a lot of pride in the fact that I'm very strong mentally and that's something you can admire about someone else you're fighting with, like Sebastian or Fernando [Alonso]" Hamilton told reporters.

"And it'll be interesting to see. He seems solid."

• Hamilton gets a challenge from his Mercedes W08

Hamilton says that we not only wants to defeat Vettel fair and square, he wants to beat a driver at the top of his game.

"I want him [Vettel] to be at his best when he gets in the car so I don't have any intention of playing psychological wars outside the car.

"I want to beat him in a car because when he's at his best and I beat him that says what it needs to say, rather than have him on the back foot.

"But it is definitely part of it for this year for both of us, being it's such a long year - just like it is in golf.

"Over 18 holes, whoever's the most consistent generally ends up winning. So I'm excited about that.

"It's an all-round battle. Physically, mentally, technically and that's why it's a great battle."

“Want to win a trackday experience? All you have to do is subscribe to our FREE newsletter HERE”

GALLERY: All the action from Monaco

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter