Hamilton to make it “painful” for rivals this year

Lewis Hamilton has said that he wants to beat his rivals while at his best this season to make his victories “painful” for them.

The Mercedes driver has won four of the past five Championship titles, adding to his win with McLaren in 2008, but has only been down to the wire in two of those with the title-race coming in the final race of the season in 2008 and 2014.

The past three have all been won before the season is over. Sebastian Vettel was mounting a challenge to Hamilton through the first half of last year, but ultimately failed after several mistakes in the second half ended his contention, handing Hamilton the title.

Hamilton said to Sky Sports: "Each year the goal is to get better and - looking at our competitors out there - the more competition, the better.

"You always want to be against the best while at your best because then when you beat them it is more painful for them and more enjoyable for you."

Ferrari were strong in the first week of testing in Barcelona, with Charles Leclerc and Vettel gathering a number of laps in the car as well as some quick times.

But Mercedes focused more on the long run and learning elements of the car before showing some pace on Thursday.

One more Championship win would put Hamilton clear in second place for most won behind Michael Schumacher, but his approach does not change because of this.

"I don't think it adds pressure, it doesn't really change anything to be honest," Hamilton said.

"Every year you reset, you re-evaluate and you set new goals. That is the same for all of us when you come to a new year, you set new heights and new targets.

"So it is pretty much the same as in recent years where we are out there to work cohesively and extract absolutely everything from ourselves as team and the car."