Hamilton admits Mercedes concept is limiting: 'Red Bull a second faster'

Lewis Hamilton is completely done with the concept Mercedes has chosen. The team largely stuck to the W13 concept, but just like last year, that choice does not seem to be very successful. Hamilton, therefore, fears that his team will kick off the season well behind Red Bull Racing and even Aston Martin.

Hamilton had to settle for tenth and eighth places respectively in the first and second free practice sessions on Friday in Bahrain. Currently, the Mercedes driver sees his team competing with Ferrari, but he fears he cannot keep up with the pace of Red Bull and Aston Martin with "the current concept" of the W14.

Hamilton done with W14 concept

The 38-year-old Briton says he is trying everything he can, but he sees a big gap to the reigning world champions. "[Looking at] Red Bull, just looking at the long runs they are a second a lap faster. So we've got a lot to work on," he admitted in a conversation with Formula1.com.

He, therefore, does not expect to close the gap to the Austrian racing team for the time being. The concept that Mercedes has so desperately clung to does not help, according to Hamilton. "Do I believe we can close the gap at some stage? Yes. But I think it’s quite hard with the concept we have," reads the Mercedes driver's harsh verdict.

The seven-time world champion fears his team will have to fight for third place at the moment. "I thought Ferrari were second, but I think on the long runs we are quite close to Ferrari, It looks like the Aston is second and we are between third and fourth," said a disgruntled Hamilton.