Hamilton wants competition from Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton is chasing a fourth Formula One World Championship in 2016 with Mercedes.

The German manufacturer has dominated the sport since the introduction of the new V6 Turbo-Hybrid engines were introduced for the 2014 season.

Mercedes have taken back-to-back constructors titles, whilst British driver Lewis Hamilton has won back-to-back Formula One World Championships.

Team-mate Nico Rosberg has been Hamilton’s closest challenger over the two years and in fleeting spells has often been the better of the two, with the ending of the 2015 campaign seeing Rosberg for the first time in his career take three consecutive victories.

But overall Hamilton has convincingly beaten his team-mate.

From 38 races in 2014 and 2015, Hamilton has won 21 times and stood on the podium 33 times.

In direct comparison, his team-mate Nico Rosberg has won 11 times and stood on the podium 30 times.

Hamilton has outscored Rosberg by 126 points across 2014 and 2015.

Depending on how competitive Ferrari will be, it could be another showdown between the two for this years title.

‘I hope it is not purely a ?Lewis and Nico show? – I hope Ferrari gets involved in that show and that we will have fierce competition beyond me and Nico. Hamilton told formula1.com.

Asked about the friction between him and team-mate Nico Rosberg he added: ‘it is a small fire that everybody pours a lot of gasoline on to make it bigger. And then, of course, also me and Nico, we unintentionally pour more gasoline on to the fire depending on who is winning a race. So it is real – a real competition.

He concluded: ‘My sole focus is again on winning the title – but Nico also has grown, so I have to accept that he is exceptionally fast and so I also have to lift my bar again. I don?t know how – but that is my goal.

Whilst taking this third title, Hamilton became the first Briton to ever take back-to-back championships.

The Brit also became the third most successful driver in the history of the sport with his 10 victories over the 19 race season lifting him to a career tally of 43, ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Ayrton Senna.