Hamilton pushing Mercedes to trial 2019 parts in Abu Dhabi

Lewis Hamilton is pushing Mercedes to trial in Abu Dhabi, on the last race weekend of the year, components destined for its 2019 car.

The current leader of the world championship, who increased his advantage over arch-rival Sebastian Vettel in Singapore, will do his best to keep the momentum going as F1 heads into the final stretch of the 2018 season.

Mercedes' development rate has been unrelenting this year, but both team and driver are already hard at work on next year's car with Hamilton consistently conveying to his engineers what he'll need to sustain and improve his performance.

"I had this meeting with the guys, and if you can see this energy with everyone, it is really - I find it really inspiring," Hamilton said.

"In those meetings I pushed them a lot about next year's car. I know what I need improving for next year’s car because they are working on the design as they need to sign things off for next year’s test already.

• Hamilton: 'They’re bringing their A-game and I’m bringing my A-game'

"Also I'm saying, 'Can you bring things forward to Abu Dhabi because I want to feel it during the race weekend rather than next year in February or March.

"When we start testing it is too late, so I am definitely keeping the pressure on these guys."

In the interim, there is still a championship to be won for the Mercedes/Hamilton combo.

Slowly but surely, the German outfit gradually deciphered and improved its W09 following a period of interrogation relative to the car's consistency and performance.

Many questions have since been answered however, and Hamilton feels his crew is now better equipped in terms of knowledge to deal with any ensuing problems.

"We started off the year, I felt great, and then we tailed off and we had some struggles with the understanding of the car and how to utilise the equipment that we had tyre-wise and balance-wise," said Hamilton.

"We had a couple of so-so races, and then thankfully we found our footing. Generally, we're going from strength to strength as a team in our understanding of the car, how we utilise the tools that we have.

"We are far more comfortable at our job right now. Six races ago we were definitely questioning ourselves, trying to find that bit of magic. But I think we've now figured the car out, we know where we are and we know what we have got to do to add to it."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter