Hamilton: 'Too early to say one person is the title rival'

Valtteri Bottas is giving Lewis Hamilton a run for his money this year, but the reigning world champion won't single out his Mercedes team mate as his only title rival.

Mercedes has enjoyed a perfect start to its 2019 campaign with a four-race run of consecutive one-two finishes so far and race wins equally split between Bottas and Hamilton.

On paper, the pair has already distanced itself from its fellow front-runners in the drivers' standings, yet Hamilton isn't dismissing a title challenge from his Ferrari and Red Bull rivals.

• Brawn impressed with Bottas 'grit and determination'

"It’s far too early to say that one person is the title rival," Hamilton said last weekend in Baku.

"Ferrari this weekend had good pace in practice and in qualifying. I think if both cars delivered as we delivered, and their drivers delivered as we delivered, I think it would have been a lot closer.

"But we still have to stay on our toes. We didn’t bring an upgrade this weekend and Ferrari did, so it’s a little bit of a surprise performance-wise, because at some stage we will bring an upgrade."

In light of Bottas' current level of performance, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff admitted the inner-team rivalry reminded of the days of dominance of Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, less the aggravation produced by the drivers' poor relationship back then.

But having been there and done that, Wolff made clear that he would not tolerate a degradation of the harmonious rapport that his drivers currently enjoy.

Hamilton said that he doesn't know what the future will hold but he trusts his relationship with Bottas won't fall apart.

"I can’t tell you what’s going to happen further in the year. I can’t judge if one’s character will change or not," he added.

"Drivers in the past didn’t stick to the rules of engagement that we have as a team, and Valtteri does."

Regardless of whom he ends up battling for the title, Hamilton simply hopes it will be a tight and hard battle.

"Last year I think they were pretty tight as well on numerous occasions. But you want it to be the toughest battle," said the Brit.

"Then when you do achieve your goals, or reach your goals, then it’s even more satisfying.

"But that’s when you do. This weekend I didn’t, so a long way still with a certain feeling, and I’ll harness it."

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