Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes is still in need of a major upgrade in order for it to be able to fight Red Bull for Formula 1 wins.
Mercedes is yet to win a race in 2023 amid Red Bull’s unbeaten start to the season, with Hamilton twice finishing second in Australia and Spain.
The German manufacturer revised its car concept from Monaco onwards in a bid to turn around its form after a difficult start to the year, but while performances have improved, it remains adrift of Red Bull’s dominant RB19.
Hamilton acknowledged the “small strides” Mercedes had made through 2023 had pushed the team forward, but the seven-time world champion was clear further improvements were needed if it wanted to be competing for victories in the second half of the season.
Speaking to Belgian outlet Sporza, Hamilton said: “None of us are happy in the sense that we’re where we want to be, but we are continuously making steps.
“We’ve had podiums, we’ve had a second place, we’ve had a pole this year which is really great.
“We’re just making small strides, and we’re looking for that big one to put us in contention for the top two. It’s not going to come easy, but everyone’s working towards it.
“Through adversity, it’s building character and strength within the team, and one day we’ll get back to where we need to be.”
Red Bull is currently on a 13-race winning streak stretching back to last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, leaving it in full command of both championships.
But while Max Verstappen’s eight victories on the bounce leave him well on course for a third straight title, team-mate Sergio Perez has come under fire after a rough patch of form in the middle of the year.
Perez’s struggles, particularly in qualifying, have left him with a 125-point deficit to Verstappen in the title race, something Hamilton believes wouldn’t be the case if he was driving the second Red Bull car.
“At the moment, it’s impossible to beat the Red Bull unless they don’t finish. They’re eight-tenths to one second faster per lap than everybody else,” he said.
“It is what it is. There’s nothing I can do about it. Do I want to be as fast as them? Of course. Would I like to have a car that’s as fast as them? Of course.
“If was in Sergio’s car, Max would not be having the same time he’s having now. But it’s not the way life is.”
