Vettel appreciates "mutual respect" between championship rival Hamilton

They might be going head-to-head for a fifth world championship crown but Sebastian Vettel believes that he and Lewis Hamilton have enjoyed a "mutual respect" despite the rivalry.

Despite racing in rival teams and with a championship title on the line, Vettel believes that the competition between the pair has always been clean due to the great respect they both share, with little drama between the two drivers occurring this season because of it.

“I think the respect between us has always been there,” Vettel said ahead of the United States Grand Prix.

“Despite the fact that maybe we are very different, we appreciate the job that the other guy is doing. I think it’s a mutual respect that we have for each other. I think (it’s been) very respectful.

“I think obviously there are two different championships apart from drivers and constructors.

“One is really between the people that work here and then the second one is for the people that also work here but more for people outside.

“I think there’s the driver landscape and the media landscape, and obviously they’re not always a match, sometimes for a reason, sometimes maybe not.

“That’s important, despite all the things that are said and that people talk about, which is part of our sport and is why our sport is so popular.”

The only major controversy the two have been involved in together when racing for the championship was back in Baku 2017 where Vettel deliberately hit Hamilton behind the safety car after assuming the Mercedes driver brake tested him.

Hamilton also came to the defence of Vettel heading into the possible championship-deciding round in Austin, Texas asking for more respect to be shown to Vettel by the media.

Vettel has come under heavy criticism this year after a series of high profile mistakes look to have cost both himself and his Ferrari team a shot at the championship.