– We are far away – VG

Just updated

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– Now we are not fighting for the top positions. We are far away from the guys in front, and we have a lot of work ahead of us. It feels like a long way, says Hamilton after 10th place in Saudi Arabia, according to Motorsport.com.

He drove an unusual weak qualification Saturday with a car that struggled. Experts interpret that the Mercedes engine is behind the competitors. During Sunday’s race, Hamilton moved up four positions from 14th place.

– We need more grip and more power. The end result was not good, but it felt like the race went very well. I felt pretty good on the hard tires, says Hamilton, with 103 individual victories in Formula 1, more than anyone else. Michael Schumacher follows closest with 91.

In an interview shown on Viasport 1, the seven-time world champion said this:

– It is tough. The reality is that we are far away at speed. I could not keep up with Haas.

Viasport commentator Atle Gulbrandsen thinks Hamilton looked resigned in the interviews after the race in Saudi Arabia. In the opening weekend in Bahrain, Hamilton finished third.

– I think Mercedes has an engine problem. And if they have an engine problem, Hamilton understands that it will be tough this year, Gulbrandsen said.

Hamilton’s partner in Mercedes, George Russell, thinks it was a cool experience with fifth place in Saudi Arabia, but also admits that the car does not run as it should.

– We are doing mouse steps at the moment, and need to take bigger steps. “I’m sure we’ll get it, but I do not know how long it will take,” Russell told the BBC.

Last season, Hamilton lost the world championship in a dramatic way to Max Verstappen.

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