‘We are fourth fastest’: Hamilton laments uncompetitive Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton has doubled down on Mercedes’ verdict that their car is unacceptably uncompetitive after one race of the Formula One season, conceding, “We know this is not the right car”.

The seven-time champion already knows any shot at another title this year is gone as Mercedes have accepted they will have to change the design concept of their car with immediate effect after they finished fourth fastest in the field at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.

Hamilton finished fifth in a race won with ease by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen whowas 50 seconds up the track from the Briton, a chasm that could have been even wider were the Dutchman pushing for the second half of the race.

Mercedes were also beaten by Ferrari and Aston Martin. The latter have emerged with a strong car, having taken early notice of their failings in 2022 and designed a new model.

Mercedes, who struggled with their design last season, decided to stick with it, but it has proved, in stark contrast to the Aston that uses a Mercedes engine, gearbox and suspension, to have gone backwards. The car lacks downforce, particularly though the fast corners where it is sliding and leaving the drivers unable to put the power down, a hugely compromising flaw.

The team have acknowledged this, with the team principal, Toto Wolff, accepting they were investigating any and all changes to their design to provide an immediate improvement in pace. In Bahrain, Hamilton confirmed he, too, concurred the current path was no longer viable.

When asked if the direction Mercedes had chosen for the car was of concern, he was unequivocal. “Concern would not be the word,” he said. “We have to keep working. We know we are not where we need to be, we know this is not the