Vettel a match for Hamilton and 'right man' for Ferrari

Mario Andretti has backed Sebastian Vettel as "the right man" to lead Ferrari's fight against Mercedes for Formula 1 honours, despite the German's rocky 2018 tilt. An error-prone Vettel came off second best against Lewis Hamilton last year, but Andretti believes there remains little to choose between the pair.

Although Ferrari delivered a car capable of challenging, and often beating, the Mercedes in 2018, Vettel succumbed under the pressure brought by Hamilton's relentless mid-season run of results.

As the Brit won five of six races between Germany and Japan, Vettel failed to make the podium in two races, with mistakes at Hockenheim and Suzuka compounded by a failed upgrade package that the Scuderia brought to Singapore.

The heat will be turned up on Vettel yet again in 2019 with the much-hyped Charles Leclerc joining him at Maranello to replace Kimi Raikkonen, who Vettel had got the better of in four years as teammates.

However, Andretti says the four-time world champion remains at the peak of his powers as Ferrari chase a first title in over a decade.

"He is absolutely the right man for Ferrari," Andretti told Sky Italia.

"I remember in his first year with Red Bull, I asked him what were his ambitions for the future and he immediately replied: Drive for Ferrari!

"He is the right driver for the job. I think it's hard to say who between Hamilton and Vettel is better because they drive different cars, but they're both good guys."

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