Top five moments in the Lewis Hamilton vs Sebastian Vettel battle in 2018

With four races are left before the current season comes to an end, we are quite certain who the winner is.

And while we can debate endlessly as to who did better and how, and the turning points of the season, it's the familiar face at the front of the grid. "Hammer-time" has prevailed ahead of the "Red-Letter day" and only a miracle can throw in a sudden upset and take the title away from Lewis Hamilton.

In what's been a comprehensive season for the Brit, he has undoubtedly produced the triumph of the large-hearted champion, arguably one who kept his cool perhaps much better than Sebastian Vettel.

But even as Vettel fans might rue the tumultuous outcome, as at one stage the German's successive wins at Australia and Bahrain, seemed to put the title race in control of Ferrari, the Silver Arrows' form has been pure gold.

So what have been the turning points this season that drew Hamilton and Vettel closer in the battle for supremacy, and ultimately paved way for major upsets and wins?

#1 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel, who true to his solid form right at the start, in winning the season-opener at Melbourne and then at Sakhir, put his Ferrari on pole for Azerbaijan looked set for another mega win.

Just that, it wasn't to be.

In a typical closely-fought, accident-marred race, as soon as the safety car made its way into the out lap with Vettel having to defend from the Mercedes and his own teammate, the German locked a wheel under braking despite holding the lead.

In a move that clearly seemed a desperate fend-off attempt that didn't pay in, Lewis grabbed the lead and usually when that happens, it's nearly impossible to offset the scenario.

While Vettel lost control in the deciding stages of the contest, Hamilton's effort was laudable in the end for holding onto a lead he inherited.

#2 Vettel shows his class at Austria

So far, Vettel's won 5 races in the year while Hamilton's won 9 already. Perhaps that alone suffices to explain the gap that Hamilton has extended.

But in Austria, Vettel bagged what seemed to be one of his best podiums ever for Ferrari.

In the picturesque Spielberg setting, perfectly nestled at the famous 'Sound Of Music country', it was the cars with the red livery that were contributing the right notes to the music of speed.

Hamilton pitted on Lap 26, much before Vettel did and emerged 1.4 seconds clear of his Ferrari rival.

Later, having battled Hamilton for ascendancy on the track for nearly 13 laps, Vettel came within a fighting distance of his rival, then third on the grid.

Within seconds of approaching a right-hander, Vettel would dive into the outside of Hamilton, nearly cornering him for any possible margin of space and made a stellar move up into third.

This was one of the defining moments of the contest as not only would Vettel hold on to a P3 but would gain a significant advantage in his fight with Lewis as the latter endured a mechanical DNF.

#3 Vettel vs Hamilton at Silverstone

Kimi Raikkonen was the 'villain' - which is not a usual sight - at the 2018 British Grand Prix. At Lewis Hamilton's home track, a circuit where he's demonstrated immense grit in the past, winning his last race here in 2017, the home-favourite began with a strong pole.

In doing so, his arch-rival, Sebastian Vettel would begin from second but within seconds of the five red lights going green, Raikkonen and Hamilton would come to blows at around Turn Two for no fault of the Mercedes driver.

While Raikkonen was rightly punished with a 10-second penalty, in what many thought could've been a little less severe, Vettel was the biggest gainer, in not only grabbing the lead of the race but holding on to it for a comfortable win.

All Hamilton could do was manage a second. But in displaying a fantastic recovery having fallen back at the end of the grid at one point, he got momentum back on his side

#4 Hamilton's might at Russia

Even before Lewis Hamilton entered Sochi for his 2018 run, it was clear which way the fight to Sebastian Vettel was headed.

He had made significant headway before the race, winning brilliant Grands Prix at Hungaroring, Monza, and Singapore.

While his critics argue that the win at Russia was gifted to him due to team-orders enforced on Bottas, what one can't undermine is the move Hamilton pulled on Vettel in the middle stages.

On Lap 14, Vettel was the first to pit ahead of the Mercedes driver. He would emerge behind Bottas.

Within a minute, Hamilton was boxed, as Mercedes reacted to Ferrari's pit-stop. But in a move that seemed thwarted and inaccurate in its execution, Vettel passed Hamilton who had emerged fourth.

Surely, Mercedes' fans' hearts must have sunk seeing Vettel pass their hero.

But it's what happened thereafter that changed the construct of the race. Within a minute of Vettel passing the eventual Russian Grand Prix winner, Hamilton kept up the ante and dived into the outside of Vettel, to emerge ahead in the run-up to a slow right-hander, having all but passed him on Lap 16 itself.

#5 Vettel's dull German Grand Prix

F1 Grand Prix of Germany where Seb failed to finish

Having clinched the pole position, local favourite Sebastian Vettel was expected to dominate the home race at Hockenheimring, a track within a close range of his home at Heppenheim.

Vettel, who was also aided by his teammate, who was told to let the German pass, despite the Ferrari driver holding on well to the lead minus a stop, would later spiral out of control running wide under wet-weather.

The result? Hamilton gained the lead of the Grand Prix, where he not only fought back valiantly but never actually seemed in control to win.