Hamilton: Mercedes will continue to make life difficult for rival teams

  • Published on 07 Oct 2019 10:25
  • comments 0
  • By: Dieter Rencken & Coilin Higgins

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is confident in his team that they can remain as the top running team in Formula 1, despite challenges from close rivals Ferrari and Red Bull in recent races.

A resurgent Ferrari has dominated since the Belgian Grand Prix, where the team won the races at Spa, Monza and Singapore before finally being stopped by Mercedes in Russia last weekend.

The Scuderia was on course for a second 1-2 finish last weekend in Sochi until Sebastian Vettel suffered an MGU-K failure, handing the victory to Hamilton when teammate Charles Leclerc failed to re-take the lead and finish third.

"I mean, remaining the leaders is not an easy challenge, or easy task at all," Hamilton commented. "so, it's understandable at some stage that we would have dips but I have 100 per cent confidence in the guys that we are still the strongest team.

"Whilst it's not been spectacular in the last couple of races, it's not like we've been terrible. We've been right up there most of the time."

"Even if some of the coming races don't go our way, it's not going to change my opinion as to what we can achieve moving forwards. I know we are going to continue to make it difficult for every other team out there for this year, next year and potentially years after."

Hamilton: Mercedes not favourites in any remaining races

Despite eventually beating Ferrari to the chequered flag in Sochi, Hamilton said that he is not confident that the team could be considered favourites for any of the five remaining races in the season, but believes there is still chance for more victories.

"I think Austin can be good for us. I think the ones with the longest straights like here [Sochi] it's harder to offset those straights and also Mexico is not an easy one," Hamilton said.

"Brazil could be similar for us because we generally work well at the hotter circuits in general and there's obviously that one big long straight but its not killer elsewhere, I think all the other races have quite long straights.

"I don't think we can be favourites at any of the remaining races but it doesn't mean we can't win. I think we get the car in the right position in qualifying then we can be strong in the races so positioning is really everything. I don't think we can be favourites but we can still turn heads."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 14:43

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 14:43

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Ferrari
  • Points 3,430
  • Podiums 132
  • Grand Prix 215
  • Country United Kingdom
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (40)
  • Place of b. Tewin, United Kingdom
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar