“In this day and age, I am positive everybody can determine that out, we aren’t the fastest,” the 37-year-old Briton advised journalists at the ultimate day of pre-season trying out on the Sakhir circuit.
“I feel Ferrari glance to be the fastest and most likely Pink Bull after which perhaps us or McLaren. We are recently no longer on the best.”
Requested whether or not he had any considerations about his skill to struggle for the championship, Hamilton mentioned it was once too early and expressed self assurance in his staff’s confirmed skill to paintings via any issues.
Mercedes have gained the final 8 constructors’ championships.
Hamilton mentioned the brand new automobile had proven first rate reliability and the staff had were given via their check programme but it surely was once transparent there remained a lot to do.
“In this day and age I don’t believe we will be competing for wins,” he mentioned.
“There may be doable inside our automobile to get us there, we have simply were given to be informed in an effort to extract it… we have now some hurdles to triumph over.
“Subsequent week we will get a significantly better appearing of our tempo however I feel other people will probably be shocked, perhaps. Other folks stay speaking about (whether or not) we are speaking ourselves down or no longer however it is a bit other this yr.”
Mercedes’s competitors have taken such declarations with some scepticism up to now.
Closing yr Mercedes had a afflicted pre-season, finishing the fewest laps of any staff, however Hamilton nonetheless gained the outlet race in Bahrain.
In 2019, Mercedes had appeared as much as part a 2d off Ferrari’s tempo in trying out after which completed one-two in Melbourne.
This season has radically revised laws and Hamilton, the game’s maximum a success driving force of all time with a file 103 wins, mentioned it felt other.
“I feel we have now a ways larger demanding situations this time,” he mentioned. “It’ll take a bit of bit longer. From what I am advised, we have now a large amount of tempo to search out.”
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly, who adopted the Mercedes carefully on Saturday and noticed Hamilton’s struggles with the automobile, was once ready to agree.
“I feel they do have some paintings to be preventing proper on the best, however it is only trying out,” mentioned the Frenchman.
