A downbeat Lewis Hamilton suggested that Mercedes is “on the wrong track” and faces an uphill challenge in 2023 off the back of Friday practice in Bahrain.
Hamilton finished eighth overall, six-tenths behind pacesetter Fernando Alonso, with George Russell further down the order in 13th spot.
When asked about what Hamilton and Mercedes discovered on Friday he paused, before answering: “I mean we found out we’re a long way off – we kind of knew that a little bit in the test, but it’s a big gap.”
“I’m trying everything we can out there, it is what it is, we just have to work at it.”
Hamilton added that “on the long run we’re quite close to Ferrari, it looks like Aston [Martin] is second, then we’re between third or fourth.
“So we’re kind of where we are last year or a little bit further behind.
“It’s difficult for everybody, and not where anyone at the team wants to be, or where everyone at the team deserves to be because everyone works so hard and really is so courageous and thoughtful in their process but we’re just on the wrong track.
“We’ve got to continue to graft a way and find a way to get ourselves on the right track, but we’re a long way off the guys in front.”
Hamilton explained that he “has to be hopeful” that Mercedes can turn around its current predicament.
“I think there was good progress through last year but the gap wasn’t as big as it is now,” he said.
“Do I believe we can close the gap at some stage? Yes, but… I think it’s quite hard with the concept we have.”
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