Lewis Hamilton is my friend but also complex and hard to read, says Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo is closer to Lewis Hamilton than perhaps any driver in the Formula One paddock but even the Australian has admitted that the Briton is complex character who is "hard to read".

The two drivers spent time together at the Coachella Music Festival in California earlier this year and, on Thursday, shared jokes off camera during an official press conference to preview Sunday's spectacular night race in Singapore.

This weekend Hamilton starts as the favourite to win his ninth grand prix of the season after setting the pace in practice on Friday.  Hamilton is closing in on a remarkable sixth world championship but continues to divide opinion at home.

The 30-year-old Ricciardo was asked why this might be case. "Lewis is cool [but] ... I guess he is complex,” the Renault driver said. “I have always had positive interactions with him, but I am not silly and I can see how people have other opinions. Whether it is his lifestyle, or that sometimes he can be quite reserved and you don’t get much out of him.

“He reached a high level at a young age, and there is the fame that comes with that. He was exposed to the celebrity lifestyle and naturally that can have an effect.

“He has admitted, too, that he is trying to find his own feet. He put on his Instagram account that he is trying to find his purpose in life so there are times when, I guess, he is trying to figure himself out. He means well, but sometimes he can be hard to read.”

Hamilton holds a 63-point championship lead over Valtteri Bottas in his inevitable march towards another triumph.

There is every chance he could obtain a big enough lead to wrap up the title in three weeks’ time at the Japanese Grand Prix. Particularly if Bottas’ indifferent form continues. On Friday Bottas put his Mercedes in the wall. Hamilton led Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by just 0.184 seconds at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Despite the lightning start to his championship defence, Hamilton has not had it all his own way in recent times. The last six races have been shared between Verstappen, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Hamilton.

Sebastian Vettel, however, hasn’t triumphed in over a year. He heads into the race a staggering 115 points behind Hamilton and in the spotlight once again following his latest mistake, a spin at Ferrari’s home race in Italy a fortnight ago.

“He needs to go back a step, take the load off, take the pressure off, take all the s--- off his shoulders, and see where that takes him,” said Ricciardo, who drove alongside the German at Red Bull.

Vettel, 32, is out of contract at the end of next year, but there have been suggestions the quadruple world champion may call it quits before then.

Ricciardo added: “I don’t think Seb is done yet. I am pretty sure he is going to stay next year, but after that? I am not sure.”