SM
Greece vs. England: 2 hrs 36 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Lewis Hamilton not worried about Mercedes' pre-season issues

:Headline: Lewis Hamilton not worried about Mercedes' pre-season issues:
Mercedes have not been at their imperious best during the sole three days of testing prior to the new Formula One campaign.
Sports Mole

Lewis Hamilton insists he will not waste time worrying about Mercedes’ pre-season troubles ahead of his bid for an unprecedented eighth world championship.

Mercedes, who have won the past seven drivers’ and constructors’ titles, have not been at their imperious best during the sole three days of testing prior to the new Formula One campaign which starts in Bahrain on March 28.

A gearbox failure saw the Silver Arrows miss almost all of the opening morning in the Gulf Kingdom on Friday, before Hamilton lost further track time when he spun off into the gravel on day two.

Hamilton then spun in the concluding 45 minutes on Sunday as he geared up for a quick lap. The Briton finished the final day of action more than a second off the pace.

But Hamilton, 36, said: “I don’t waste time worrying because that deters you from finding a solution.

“It is better when it doesn’t go smoothly, and it is better that it doesn’t go smoothly now, and does go smoothly when we start racing. This is the perfect time for us to find the issues and have the problems, so I welcome them.

“Everyone is just keeping their heads down. Nobody is fazed by it. We are a multi-time championship-winning team and we know how to pull together and stay focused on the job.”

Max Verstappen set the fastest lap of the test on the final afternoon – and while lap times have to be treated with a degree of a caution – there is no question that Red Bull have enjoyed an encouraging three days.

Indeed, Verstappen could prove to be Hamilton’s closest challenger for a title that would take the Briton clear of Michael Schumacher in the record books.

Red Bull will also boast a more experienced line-up this season with Sergio Perez, a veteran of almost 200 races, replacing the London-born Alexander Albon.

Hamilton added: “It is without doubt quite impressive to see the speed of some of the other teams and Red Bull are looking particularly strong.

“They will be a different machine and animal this year with a strong driver line-up and really good car.

“You can only assume they are going to be right there, if not at the front, at the first race and it is going to be a great, long battle with them throughout the year.”

Verstappen, 23, said: “It is too early to say how we will do but I have positive feelings in the car.

“We will find out in qualifying where we are because that is where you can judge pure performance, but from the test so far it has been a good few days.”

body check tags ::

amp_article__439222 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-03-14 16:40:50:
html db last update - 2021-03-14 16:40:50 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Lewis Hamilton

Click here for more stories about Mercedes

Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen Formula 1
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
What's the latest on Man United defender Martinez's 'significant' injury?
"There's always that link": Welbeck comments on Man United return speculation
Isak to Arsenal? Newcastle striker breaks silence on transfer rumours

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Extra homework: Estevao reveals plan to continue education at Chelsea

1

EH

Man City, Liverpool beware! Arsenal 'monitoring' in-demand midfielder

2

MC

Preview: Sweden vs. Slovakia - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PS

Arsenal defender 'more likely' to leave on loan in January

NEW

4

AD

How close was Newcastle winger Gordon to joining Chelsea in 2022?

5

HC

Could Liverpool's Slot raid former rival for 21-year-old attacker?

6

CL

Thursday's Nations League predictions including Greece vs. England

7

TN

Zubimendi asking price 'not an obstacle' for Man City amid January interest

8

ZA

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's top 10 goals of all time

9

ZI

Ironic timing: Kane 'uncertain' for England game after withdrawals rant

10

IT


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .