Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton is wary of the improved Red Bull team. The Briton has admitted Red Bull pose a real threat to his hopes of a record-breaking eighth Formula One world title this season. Max Verstappen and his new Red Bull teammate, Sergio Pérez, enjoyed an almost trouble-free pre-season test, with Verstappen setting the fastest time of the three days on Sunday as they logged 369 laps in total. “They’ve had some really good running,” said Hamilton. “They’re going to be a different animal this year, with a real good strong lineup of the two drivers and a really good car.” Last season Mercedes won 13 of 17 races. While Red Bull won the final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. “Having seen them win the last race you can only assume they’re going to be right there, if not at the front, of the first race,” he said. “It’s going to be a great long battle with them through the year.” Mercedes had problems over the three days, during which they completed 304 laps. “I don’t waste time worrying,” he said. “That deters you from finding the solution, so we are just working hard and focusing on getting through the short amount of testing we have and trying to be as efficient as we possibly can with it. It’s better when it doesn’t go smoothly, or it’s better that it doesn’t go smooth now and goes smooth once we get into the racing. We are a multi-championship winning team, we know how to pull together, keep our heads down and focus on the job.” The first race of the season is in Bahrain on 28 March.
Source: The Guardian/ *Join us on Telegram!/ Follow us on Twitter!