Hamilton: We're the four strongest drivers....

In the wake of the 2017 season he spoke candidly about himself and these three rivals, "We're the four strongest drivers. I really hope we are all in the fight next year. It would be amazing."

"You look at them all slightly differently. They all have different characteristics. Sebastian, for example, from this year, you could say: Give more space. Not in a negative way."

"Max - takes a lot of risks. Also you have to give more space but he is more inexperienced than the other guys. Fernando - toughest driver there is, so you have to keep that utmost respect for each other but you've really got to play your cards right."

Asked if he felt more comfortable going wheel-to-wheel with Alonso, Hamilton replied, "It seems so. He was very hard and tough but fair. Friggin' heck - his race-craft is mighty.

"But Max's race-craft is very impressive. He's doing wonderful things but he is going to grow so much over the next 10 years. I don't think it will be a problem, it'll just be freaking tough. Wouldn't that be a fight? Even I'd pay to see that."

This past season Hamilton and Vettel were the two title contenders, the Ferrari driver having the edge during the early part of the season. At that point there was mutual admiration between the pair, who both relished going head-to-head.

That all went pear-shaped when the due were embroiled in a controversial incident during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that soured the relationship immediately.

Hamilton was asked if he felt the pressure got to the Ferrari driver, he replied, "I don't know. That's difficult. Anything I say would just be an assumption."

"Pressure points. Weak points. You just keep your foot down, keep the pressure on and when the other shows no sign of weakness… that's definitely difficult.

"Look at Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. At some point in the game, one will see a slight weakness in the other - even if just half a per cent. That's what they try to capitalise on and which makes the difference and that's really how it has been this year. The key for me is to be the most solid driver here."

Did he learn about Vettel's weaknesses in 2014? "Of course. I'm not going to tell you what I've learned but you can see it and I think you guys have learned about him too."

"He shouldn't shy away from that. He will learn from the experiences, as we all do. I have had years like that. He has had years of complete solidity like [I did] this year as well. I imagine next year he's going to be coming back guns blazing," predicted Hamilton.