Hamilton: A lot of work to get Mercedes to 'a better place'

For Lewis Hamilton, the hard work is just starting for Mercedes, with the Brackley squad digging in after pre-season testing to solve the issues and improve the pace of its W13 Silver Arrow.

Despite setting the pace in Barcelona, Mercedes exited F1's pre-season preparations a step behind Red Bull and Ferrari, based on the team's raw numbers but also on Hamilton and teammate George Russell's comments.

Both Red Bull and Ferrari have expressed their skepticism regarding Mercedes' conservative stance, insisting they've heard it all before.

But this time, the German outfit's downplaying appears genuine, although Hamilton remains upbeat about his team's ability to improve its performance.

"There's a confidence that we can always work through whatever problem that we're facing," the Briton told the media after Saturday's final day of running in Bahrain.

"We've got through the test programme, we've had decent reliability, which has been positive. I think everyone is struggling on this bumpy track.

"We come out of it knowing that we still have a lot of work to do."

At times, Mercedes' W13 looked as unstable as a one-legged stool out on the track, with the car's behaviour undermined by its porpoising effect and wild understeer.

Visually in Bahrain, Mercedes' new-spec machine displayed the traits of a natural "diva", a label slapped on to its 2021 contender and on to a few of its predecessors.

But Hamilton believes that a few of the W13's characteristics are currently widespread among F1's new generation cars.

"I think that was a name that Toto gave our car once. It's not necessarily a word I would have used," he said.

"2022's car regulations have meant - I think for everyone - sliding around and we all seem to have a little bit less grip than then before – the tyres are worse this year."

• Read also: Russell says Mercedes performance just 'isn't there'

Despite Mercedes' struggles, the seven-time world champion is focused on the positives he has taken away from testing, including the ability for F1's new cars to follow each other more closely.

"On the long run, it's physically a lot easier for me," he explained.

"The positive so far… following behind another car looks a little bit better which is, hopefully, the right direction.

"I hope we can maybe get some better tyres at some stage. Maybe they'll work better in places that are not so hot.

"But yeah, I'm sure the car will progress through the year and get to a better place."

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