Lewis Hamilton believes Mercedes are "miles away" from Red Bull after finishing 50 seconds behind race winner Max Verstappen in Bahrain.
The seven-time world champion did not believe fifth place truly reflected where the Mercedes car is compared to the Red Bull machines. Hamilton believes his team is only the fourth fastest on the grid, with Aston Martin and Ferrari quicker.
Despite both Mercedes being far off the pace in free practice sessions, Hamilton was able to secure P7 in qualifying with team-mate George Russell one place higher. The two Mercedes sat between the two Aston Martins on the grid with the Ferraris also within their sights.
Despite Hamilton battling Fernando Alonso throughout the Grand Prix, the Mercedes could not match the pace of the Aston Martin. The Spaniard completed the podium with the two Red Bull racers, while Hamilton feels fifth place was about as much as he could have asked for.
Speaking after the race, the Brit told reporters: "We were miles away. There was a Ferrari that would have been ahead of [Alonso], so we would have really been sixth [had Charles Leclerc not been forced to retire ], so a podium was nowhere near. It generally felt the same as last year.
"When we did the strategy in the morning, I told the guys it wasn't going to go as far as they said it was going to go – and it didn't. We have just got a lot of work to do. We have just got to add downforce to the car – we're lacking a lot of downforce. That is really where the time will come from. As soon as we put more load on the rear and the front, we'll pick up the pace."
Mercedes have already admitted that their 2023 car concept is flawed after deciding to keep a similar design to the previous season. Finishing third in the constructors' championship in 2022, the Mercedes struggled with pace and 'porpoising' issues throughout last season.
However, Hamilton remains optimistic and said: "We know we are not where we need to be and we know that this isn't the right car – but I've just got to try and stay positive, keep my head up and keep pushing the guys."
Russell also found the Bahrain Grand Prix difficult, finishing seventh behind Lance Stroll. "We thought we had a chance of fighting the Ferraris and the Aston Martins," he said. "Clearly that wasn't the case, the fact is we don't have enough performance on the car."
