Rosberg: How to beat Hamilton in 2018

2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg knows how it feels to get the better of Lewis Hamilton, and the German has explained how Sebastian Vettel and co can go about toppling the Mercedes driver.

Rosberg retired just days after clinching the 2016 World Championship, beating Hamilton by just five points.

Rosberg told Sky Sports F1: “The weakness Lewis has is a bit of inconsistency. He has these periods when he is just not on it.

“If you are able to pounce in those periods and really make the most of it, you can keep him down for a while longer.

“You have to make the most of it, absolutely, and Sebastian did that pretty well last year.”

Rosberg will be appearing as a pundit at several races in 2018 with Sky Sports F1.

He continued: “When Lewis has his good weekends he is almost unbeatable, he is unbelievably fast and maybe the best guy out there.

“The only was to beat Lewis is to be 100% with everything, do the perfect season. Otherwise there is no chance.”

Rosberg also had his say on Hamilton’s competitors, and in particular his replacement; Valtteri Bottas.

“I hope that Valtteri can be even closer this year, because last year he showed some really big flashes of brilliance but it just lacked in consistency.

“I think he can do it, I think he can really ramp it up even further and get very, very close.

“Then Sebastian has to be the next one as a big challenger for Lewis.

“For Kimi, looking at last year, it will not be so easy but maybe he can find a little bit extra this year.

“Then the Red Bull guys it depends on their car.

“If the car is good, those two are some of the most exciting prospects and when they are up front there is always action happening.”