British former Formula One racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart sees Scuderia Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel as favourite to win the Formula One world championship this year, rather than Lewis Hamilton. With three victories scored during the first six rounds of the F1 season, in Australia, Bahrain and Monaco – the German driver leads his Mercedes rival by 25 points, or one clear win, in the Drivers’ standings, ahead of the 2017 Canadian Grand Prix:

“Sebastian has more experience and is calmer than Lewis. It will be difficult for Lewis to turn it around because Vettel is so hungry to succeed again.” – Sir Jackie Stewart explained, as reported on Monday by the British media. The F1 legend was also critical of Lewis Hamilton’s last year, consdering that the Mercedes driver should have been punished due to the fact that he repeatedly ignored team orders in his battle against teammate and eventual world champion Nico Rosberg in the last race of the season, which took place in Abu Dhabi:

“I think he (Lewis Hamilton) can be a little ballerina. Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda are not stupid people, and neither is the Mercedes chairman who often comes to Grands Prix. You cannot threaten a multi-national corporation of that size by one man who is just not doing it the right way. Give him the option of ‘either do it our way or you have to be excused.” – Jackie Stewart said at that time.

Marc Surer, former racing driver from Switzerland and current TV commentator, also agreed with Jackie Stewart’s favourable view on Sebastian Vettel, adding: “Vettel is someone who is discouraged by a bad car, but when he has a good car, he is incredible. Also, with his family-driven lifestyle, he has fewer fluctuations than Hamilton.” – the former Ensign, Arrows and Brabham driver concluded.