Lewis Hamilton warns that Sebastian Vettel's domination of F1 risks turning fans off the sport.

Speaking in the wake of the Korean Grand Prix, in which he finished fifth, the Mercedes driver told reporters that the championship is now a formality.

"He has won already,” said the Englishman, “unless he doesn’t finish the rest of the races, and even if he doesn’t he has probably still won it.

“Personally I feel for the fans," he continued, "because I remember the period of time when Michael Schumacher was winning. I remember waking up in the morning to watch the start of the race and then going to sleep, and then waking up when it ended because I already knew what would happen. I am pretty sure a lot of people were doing that today, at least in my family there is.”

Of course, Hamilton's comments come off the back of a four-win streak for Vettel, two of those wins coming on circuits where the Red Bull is not traditionally at ease. Furthermore, all the signs were that Mercedes would be giving the German a harder time this weekend, losing out in qualifying by just 0.2s.

Yesterday was the fourteenth race of the season, by the midway point (of those fourteen), Canada, Vettel had won three races, compared with Alonso's two and wins for both Raikkonen and Nico Rosberg, Hamilton's Mercedes teammate. Of the next three races, Vettel won one, with Rosberg and Hamilton each taking a win... then came Belgium and the ‘run of four’.

Thus far, Vettel has won seven races, and whilst there are five still remaining - which he could well win - let's not forget that there have been previous seasons in which one driver has pretty much dominated, and not just Schumacher.

As recently as 2009, Jenson Button won six of the first seven races, eventually taking the title by 11 points from (guess who) Vettel. The difference is that after that sixth win, Button didn't win any more races.

His driving didn't deteriorate, rather the opposition raised its game, Red Bull refusing to give up on the title(s) until the very end.

With teams now switching to 2014, yet Red Bull still bringing updates, the Austrian outfit looks to be heading towards its fourth title.

Meanwhile, despite the promise shown on Friday, and again on Saturday, Hamilton was led home yesterday by a driver whose future is in doubt due to one of the more ludicrous aspects of our sport - the 2014 weight rules - driving for a team that a few short weeks ago was said to be in such a financial state that it might not see out the season.

Due to a stoic refusal to give in, and a determination to improve rather than moan about the situation, Sauber is now hunting down Force India for sixth in the championship.

It is not up to Vettel and Red Bull to stop and say 'hey guys, sorry about that, you take the flag for a change', it is up to the opposition to raise its game.

It's the constant moaning that truly induces sleep.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Skidmarks, 11/10/2013 9:53

"@Frieds - We fans can't have it both ways! We complain when drivers just spout corporate nonsense and then again if they say something controversial. I think that Hamilton has already shown us, in a car, how good he is.
It can get tiresome, but for me at least it is less worse than the alternative."

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2. Posted by Frieds, 11/10/2013 8:58

"Ok, Hamilton is a good driver but so too is Hulkenberg! Everytime that Hamilton opens his mouth, I think: "What a prick! A really spoilt prick!" Show us, in the car, how good you are! And just keep your mouth shut! Then Mercedes or his Superstar management talk to him about his PR and he changes his tune.

I think I'm becoming a grouch so time for me to shut up..."

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3. Posted by Rock Doc, 07/10/2013 17:45

"A truely disappointing comment from Hamilton. I guess the frustration of the afternoon got to him. Although Vettel was off at the front, Korea was an excellent race. With the fighting going on all down the field.

Even though Red Bull seem to have th eedge for the moment, the racing over the last couple of years has been awesome. We have 5 world champions really racing each other. Watching Hamilton and Alonso yesterday was great. I think Hamilton realise his mistake once he has time to think it over.

Not what I expected of him."

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4. Posted by C5, 07/10/2013 16:54

""It's the constant moaning that truly induces sleep."

So right!

Red Bull is doing a great job and Vettel is simply taking intelligent driving to a higher level. If the others can't raise their game it's their problem. Sauber and Hulkenberg did for the Korea GP. Very entertaining to watch!
"

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5. Posted by JackTheCat, 07/10/2013 11:07

"Sorry Maria, but what does 'when they can't even deal with Hulkenberg' mean?

1) Nico Hulkenberg is a very good driver, a lot better than many realise... when in the right equipment he has shown that many times already! To say that Hamilton (and Alonso) can't even deal with him is very dismissive of his and their ability! Vettel is very very good, but I don't think he is head and shoulders above the others all other things being equal.

2) Hulkenberg has a car that is now, like the RB, using the exhaust gases to add downforce and hence has great traction out of the corners like the RB. Yesterday he used that to great effect. the Mercedes and Ferrari do not have that advantage and it is up to them to find it, but given no testing is allowed that has very little if not nothing to do with the drivers!

I feel that both Hamilton and Alonso are becoming frustrated not with Vettel per se or any one individual thing, but with the current state of F1 in general. Alonso chose to moan about the tyres and Hamilton moans about Vettel's domination..... it is wrong of both of them to do so, but I think they both know that in a better car that could be pushed 100% 100% of the time they would be up there duelling with Vettel and to be honest isn't that what we all want to see?

If as Alonso said they are driving the cars at 95% most of the time then surely that can make a good driver look as good as a great driver.... I am pretty sure F1 should not be about that!"

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6. Posted by Maria, 07/10/2013 10:26

"This article nailed it. The race was entertaining because some big guns were made to look ordinary by a guy who should have been in a top car long ago. Shame on these whiners for crying about Vettel when they cant even deal with Hulkenberg.

That said, Hamilton was the one claiming that Vettel isn't dominating and it wasn't that much a problem just last weekend......"

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Hamilton bemoans Vettel's domination

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