F1 pre-season testing: Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes improved but Red Bull still clear

F1 pre-season testing: Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes improved but Red Bull still clear

Hamilton set the 12th-fastest time on day three of pre-season testing in Bahrain

Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes have “definitely improved” their car for this season but Red Bull “clearly are out in the distance”.

The seven-time champion said his team had “done a great job” in redesigning their car after abandoning their previous discredited philosophy.

“It felt much more enjoyable to drive,” Hamilton said. “We still have time to find.

“Red Bull clearly are out in the distance.”

A year ago, Hamilton was frustrated Mercedes had dismissed his concerns about their 2022 car and continued with the same design philosophy into the following season.

But the new Mercedes is more conventional in following the design trend started by Red Bull two years ago.

“It’s a good platform to work from, a much better car to start the season with,” added Hamilton.

He ended the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain with the 12th fastest time, having taken part in only the slower first session.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the times, 0.046 seconds faster than Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell.

Both of them, in addition to Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu with the third fastest time, used softer tyres to beat the previous benchmark established by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who continued the impressive form he showed on the first day of testing.

Not only was Verstappen’s fastest time set on harder tyres, they were not even new and at their peak when he did it. He starts the season as a strong favourite for a fourth consecutive world title.

Hamilton is entering his final season with Mercedes having decided to join Ferrari for 2025 and is determined to go out on a high.

“This chapter is still not finished,” he added. “I am still 100% focused on finishing on a high with this team and have absolutely faith in everything going on in the team – and we will try to close the gap to the Red Bull somehow.”

Why did Hamilton sign for Ferrari?

Hamilton expanded on his decision to end his relationship with Mercedes, which is the most successful driver-team combination in F1 history, just a few months after signing a new contract with the team.

“In the summer, we signed and at that time I saw my future with Mercedes,” said Hamilton. “But an opportunity came up at the end of the year and I decided to take it.

“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. I’ve been with Mercedes, I think it’s 26 years they have supported me. We have had an absolutely incredible journey. We have created history in the sport and I am very proud of what we achieved but ultimately I am writing my story and I felt like it was time to start a new chapter.”

Hamilton added his interest in Ferrari had begun by watching Michael Schumacher driving for the Italian team in his youth. The German won five consecutive titles for Ferrari from 2000-04.

Hamilton said: “All of us see the screen pop up and you see the driver in the red cockpit and you wonder what it would be like to be surrounded by red.

“You go to the Italian Grand Prix and you see the Ferrari fans. It is a team that has not had huge success since Michael’s day and 2007, and I saw it as a huge challenge. Even as a kid, I used to play on GP2 as Michael. I’m really really excited by it.”

He said his relationship with Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur, whose team he drove for when winning the Formula 3 and GP2 titles before graduating to F1, was key.

“It really wouldn’t have happened without him,” admitted Hamilton.

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F1 pre-season testing, Bahrain, day three

1 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:30.322

2 George Russell (GB) Mercedes 1:30.368

3 Zhou Guanyu (Chi) Sauber 1:30.647

4 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:30.755

5 Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) RB 1:30.775

6 Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams 1:30.984

7 Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren 1:31.030

8 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Aston Martin 1:31.159

9 Carlos Sainz (Spa) Ferrari 1:31.247*

10 Sergio Perez (Mex) Red Bull 1:31.483*

11 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Haas 1:31.686

12 Lewis Hamilton (GB) Mercedes 1:31.066*

13 Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin 1:32.038

14 Lando Norris (GB) McLaren 1:32.108

15 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Alpine 1:32.895

16 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas 1:33.053*

17 Esteban Ocon (Fra) Alpine 1:33.079

18 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Sauber 1:33.528*

19 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) RB 1:39.327*