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 

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

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 - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 2,989
  • Podiums 122
  • Grand Prix 168
  • Country United Kingdom
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (38)
  • Place of b. Tewin, United Kingdom
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar