DOHA: Lewis Hamilton admitted Mercedes were “a long way off” the pace and struggling to close the gap after he finished eighth in Friday’s second practice at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion, who is in the final year of his current contract, said he had half-expected to discover a performance deficit.
“I’m trying everything I can, but it is what it is and we’ve just go to try and work at it. We kind of knew that a little from the test, but it’s a big gap,” he said.
“We’re not strong on single lap pace or race pace. I’d say they’re very similar. We’re a second a lap behind Red Bull so we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Hamilton added that he had expected Mercedes to be closer to the front.
“We’re just on the wrong track so we’ve got to continue to graft away and find a way to get on the right track,” he added.
