2018 Formula One World Championship — The Duel Deepens
The 2018 season began as something rare in modern Formula One: a genuine duel between equals.
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, both four-time World Champions, entered the year tied in legacy and ambition — two titans fighting not for survival, but for history.
The hybrid era had matured.
Mercedes’ silver precision met Ferrari’s red passion.
The Scuderia, reborn under Maurizio Arrivabene and Mattia Binotto, had built a car — the SF71H — capable of standing toe-to-toe with Mercedes’ W09 EQ Power+.
Each had strengths: Ferrari’s straight-line speed and mechanical grip, Mercedes’ power and strategy discipline.
For half a season, the championship swayed like a pendulum between Maranello and Brackley — until one man’s consistency became another’s unraveling.
Round 1 — Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne, 25 March 2018)
A familiar stage, an unfamiliar result.
Hamilton dominated qualifying by over half a second, but Ferrari outsmarted Mercedes during a Virtual Safety Car period.
Vettel stayed out, gained track position, and stole the win.
It was déjà vu for Mercedes — beaten not by speed, but by cunning.
Winner: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Fastest Lap: Daniel Ricciardo (1:25.945)
Championship Lead: Vettel (+7 over Hamilton)
Round 2 — Bahrain Grand Prix (Sakhir, 8 April 2018)
Ferrari doubled down.
Vettel led from the start and fought off a late charge from Bottas on aging tires to win by just 0.7 seconds.
It was grit, not dominance — a champion’s drive under pressure.
Behind them, Pierre Gasly stunned with fourth for Toro Rosso-Honda — the first sign that Honda power was awakening.
Winner: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Fastest Lap: Valtteri Bottas (1:33.740)
Championship Lead: Vettel (+17 over Hamilton)
Round 3 — Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai, 15 April 2018)
Red Bull stole the spotlight.
A mid-race Safety Car allowed Ricciardo to pit for fresh tires, slicing through both Ferraris and Mercedes with surgical aggression.
Vettel was hit by Verstappen and fell to eighth, Hamilton fourth.
Ricciardo’s overtake on Bottas for the lead was pure theatre — late braking, no hesitation, and all nerve.
Winner: Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Daniel Ricciardo (1:35.785)
Championship Lead: Vettel (+9 over Hamilton)
Round 4 — Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Baku, 29 April 2018)
Street chaos and shattered tempers.
The Red Bulls collided spectacularly — Ricciardo rear-ending Verstappen — while Bottas led late, only to suffer a puncture two laps from victory.
Hamilton inherited the win, Vettel overbraked on cold tires and fell to fourth.
Luck smiled silver.
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Fastest Lap: Valtteri Bottas (1:45.149)
Championship Lead: Hamilton (+4 over Vettel)
Round 5 — Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona, 13 May 2018)
Mercedes reasserted control.
Hamilton dominated from start to finish, Bottas followed, and Ferrari faded — tire degradation their undoing.
It was a clean, clinical weekend that restored order to the championship.
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Fastest Lap: Kevin Magnussen (1:19.836)
Championship Lead: Hamilton (+17 over Vettel)
Round 6 — Monaco Grand Prix (Monte Carlo, 27 May 2018)
Red Bull’s redemption.
Daniel Ricciardo, haunted by his lost 2016 win, qualified on pole and held off Vettel despite a failing MGU-K that left him down 160 horsepower.
He drove flawlessly for 78 laps — slow in a straight line, but perfect in every corner.
Hamilton finished third, Ferrari still within reach.
“Redemption complete,” Ricciardo said, smiling through exhaustion.
Winner: Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Max Verstappen (1:14.260)
Championship Lead: Hamilton (+14 over Vettel)
Round 7 — Canadian Grand Prix (Montréal, 10 June 2018)
Ferrari revived.
Vettel took pole and led every lap — a carbon copy of old-school Ferrari control.
Hamilton struggled with cooling issues, finishing fifth.
It was Ferrari’s first win in Canada since 2004, and Vettel’s 50th career victory.
Winner: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Fastest Lap: Max Verstappen (1:13.864)
Championship Lead: Vettel (+1 over Hamilton)
Round 8 — French Grand Prix (Paul Ricard, 24 June 2018)
France returned to the calendar, and Mercedes ruled again.
Hamilton dominated from pole, Vettel collided with Bottas at the start and received a penalty.
Ferrari’s momentum faltered; Mercedes had found its rhythm again.
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Fastest Lap: Valtteri Bottas (1:34.225)
Championship Lead: Hamilton (+14 over Vettel)
Round 9 — Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg, 1 July 2018)
Mercedes’ worst day of the hybrid era.
Both cars retired with mechanical failures, ending a 33-race streak of finishes.
Verstappen capitalized with a controlled win, while Vettel finished third to retake the championship lead.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Kimi Räikkönen (1:06.957)
Championship Lead: Vettel (+1 over Hamilton)
Round 10 — British Grand Prix (Silverstone, 8 July 2018)
A classic at Silverstone.
Vettel led early, Hamilton spun at Turn 3 after contact with Räikkönen, and recovered heroically to second.
Ferrari won on Mercedes’ home soil — and for the first time, Hamilton’s composure cracked.
Winner: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Fastest Lap: Sebastian Vettel (1:27.097)
Championship Lead: Vettel (+8 over Hamilton)
Round 11 — German Grand Prix (Hockenheim, 22 July 2018)
The season’s turning point.
In front of his home crowd, Vettel led comfortably — until rain began to fall.
He slid off at Turn 13, crashing out from the lead.
Hamilton, starting 14th, charged through the field to win.
“It felt like destiny,” he said afterward.
It was more than victory — it was a psychological collapse for Ferrari.
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton (1:15.545)
Championship Lead: Hamilton (+17 over Vettel)
Round 12 — Hungarian Grand Prix (Budapest, 29 July 2018)
Hamilton tightened the noose.
In the wet, he took pole by a full second and cruised to victory.
Ferrari’s tire management faltered; Vettel finished second, defeated on pace and precision.
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Fastest Lap: Daniel Ricciardo (1:20.012)
Championship Lead: Hamilton (+24 over Vettel)
Round 13 — Belgian Grand Prix (Spa-Francorchamps, 26 August 2018)
Ferrari fought back with fire.
Vettel out-dragged Hamilton on the Kemmel Straight to take the lead and never looked back.
Ferrari’s straight-line advantage was real — the title race briefly reignited.
Winner: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Fastest Lap: Valtteri Bottas (1:46.286)
Championship Lead: Hamilton (+17 over Vettel)
Round 14 — Italian Grand Prix (Monza, 2 September 2018)
Ferrari’s fortress became its downfall.
Vettel collided with Hamilton on Lap 1 and spun, while Hamilton hunted down Räikkönen to take a crushing win in front of a stunned Tifosi.
It was a symbolic moment — the end of Ferrari’s dream.
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Fastest Lap: Kimi Räikkönen (1:22.497)
Championship Lead: Hamilton (+30 over Vettel)
Round 15 — Singapore Grand Prix (Marina Bay, 16 September 2018)
Hamilton’s masterpiece.
He delivered one of the greatest qualifying laps in F1 history — a flawless dance through the neon streets — then converted it into a dominant victory.
Vettel finished third, frustration visible.
The gap widened to near-insurmountable.
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Fastest Lap: Kevin Magnussen (1:41.905)
Championship Lead: Hamilton (+40 over Vettel)
Round 16 — Russian Grand Prix (Sochi, 30 September 2018)
Mercedes perfection, politics included.
Hamilton won after team orders instructed Bottas to let him past.
The moment was pragmatic — but unpopular.
Hamilton called it “not how I want to win,” yet it sealed the championship’s fate.
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Fastest Lap: Valtteri Bottas (1:35.861)
Championship Lead: Hamilton (+50 over Vettel)
Round 17 — Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka, 7 October 2018)
Hamilton at his serene best.
Pole, fastest lap, and a lights-to-flag victory — while Ferrari’s strategy collapsed again amid confusion and poor timing.
Hamilton’s fifth title was now inevitable.
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Fastest Lap: Sebastian Vettel (1:32.318)
Championship Lead: Hamilton (+67 over Vettel)
Round 18 — United States Grand Prix (Austin, 21 October 2018)
Kimi Räikkönen’s swan song of brilliance.
After 113 races without a win, he held off Verstappen and Hamilton in a tense three-way duel.
Ferrari’s old lion roared again, but Hamilton’s calm fourth-place finish brought him to the brink of glory.
Winner: Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)
Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton (1:37.392)
Championship Lead: Hamilton (+70 over Vettel)
Round 19 — Mexican Grand Prix (Mexico City, 28 October 2018)
History sealed itself.
Verstappen dominated from start to finish, but Hamilton’s fourth-place finish was enough to crown him five-time World Champion — equaling Fangio and standing one shy of Schumacher.
He celebrated quietly, exhausted, emotional.
“It’s beyond my dreams,” he said, clutching his helmet under the Mexican sun.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Valtteri Bottas (1:18.741)
World Champion: Lewis Hamilton
Round 20 — Brazilian Grand Prix (Interlagos, 11 November 2018)
Hamilton’s precision met Verstappen’s fury.
Verstappen led until a backmarker collision with Ocon spun him around, handing victory to Hamilton.
It was the flashpoint of youth versus experience — and perhaps a sign of the battles to come.
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Fastest Lap: Valtteri Bottas (1:10.540)
Round 21 — Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Yas Marina, 25 November 2018)
The season closed under the lights.
Hamilton, already champion, took his 11th win of the year.
Alonso bowed out, Vettel congratulated Hamilton on track, and the sport closed a chapter of two titans — one triumphant, one broken.
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Fastest Lap: Sebastian Vettel (1:40.867)
Epilogue: The Duel Deepens, Then Dies
2018 was the season Formula One had craved: raw pace, emotional rivalry, and drama at every turn.
But while Ferrari began with promise, Mercedes ended with perfection.
Vettel’s brilliance faltered under pressure — errors in Baku, Hockenheim, and Monza cost him the title.
Hamilton, by contrast, was untouchable — faster, wiser, calmer.
He had become more than a driver; he was an institution.
By year’s end, Mercedes had claimed its fifth consecutive double championship.
Ferrari had come closer than ever — and yet, as always in the hybrid era, not close enough.
World Drivers’ Champion: Lewis Hamilton 🇬🇧 (Mercedes W09 EQ Power+)
Constructors’ Champion: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team 🇩🇪 (W09 EQ Power+)
📚 Sources & References — 2018 Formula One World Championship
Primary Historical Records
Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) — Official Results Archive: 2018 Formula One World Championship.
https://www.fia.comFormula One Management (FOM) — 2018 Season Archive.
https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2018Mercedes-AMG Petronas Technical Archive (Brackley, UK).
W09 EQ Power+ data, tire wear and performance analysis.Scuderia Ferrari Archive (Maranello, Italy).
SF71H wind-tunnel development records and race strategies.Red Bull Racing Heritage Collection (Milton Keynes, UK).
RB14 chassis reports and Ricciardo–Verstappen incident analyses.
Contemporary & Period Publications
Motor Sport Magazine (2018 Issues).
“The Duel Deepens.”
“Hamilton and Vettel: Fire and Ice.”
“The Fall of Ferrari.”
La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy).
“Ferrari: L’anno del Rimpianto.”
“Vettel, il Sogno Spezzato.”The Times (UK).
“Hamilton’s Fifth Star.”
“Vettel’s Fragile Crown.”Der Spiegel (Germany).
“Vettel: Die Tragödie von Hockenheim.”L’Équipe (France).
“2018: Le Duel Éternel.”
Historical Analyses & Books
Alan Henry. Formula One: The Complete History. Motorbooks, 2019.
Mark Hughes. The Duel: Hamilton vs Vettel. Haynes, 2019.
Ross Brawn & Adam Parr. Total Competition. Simon & Schuster, 2018.
Gerald Donaldson. Grand Prix Century. Virgin Books, 2019.
Maurizio Arrivabene. Ferrari: L’Anno Che Non Fu. Rizzoli, 2020.
Documentary & Audio-Visual Material
Sky Sports F1. “Hamilton vs Vettel: The Duel Deepens.”
FIA Heritage Series. “2018 — The Duel Deepens.”
BBC Archives. “Grand Prix 2018 Season Review.”
Mercedes F1 Media. “W09: The Fifth Star.”
Netflix. Drive to Survive, Season 1 (2019) — Episodes 1–3: The Duel and the Fallout.
