Hamilton doesn't think Mercedes has a deficit to Red Bull: "Bad attitude"

Lewis Hamilton has, despite the gap in the championship to Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing, no feeling that Mercedes will come to Austria with a disadvantage. He said this during the press conference prior to the Styrian Grand Prix.

Following Mercedes' defeat at the Paul Ricard circuit in France, Red Bull Racing have slipped ahead in the championship, both drivers and constructors. Despite that, Hamilton doesn't feel his team will start with a deficit at the Red Bull Ring. "It's a bad way to go into the weekend if you think you're behind," he said to the likes of Formula1.co.uk.

"We come here with an optimistic attitude," continued the 36-year-old Briton. "Hopefully we've made a step, even if it's a very small one. Then it's still a step in the right direction."

Valtteri Bottas has usually been of great strategic value to Mercedes, but in the midst of the title battle with Max Verstappen, the latter currently seems to have more to gain from his teammate Sergio Perez. "We can always improve ourselves," Hamilton said when asked about the subject.

"Red Bull are obviously doing well. I saw the video of Max and Checo, that came out very well. Half a second later it could have been in the middle of the corner and Max might have lost more time. But it's not always about performance, it's also about team morale," concluded the world champion.