Hamilton: "We've lost performance since Melbourne"

It looked like the same old story when Hamilton powered his way to pole position in Australia with quite the gap to second-placed Kimi Raikkonen. However, a tactical error saw Sebastian Vettel emerge from the pitlane while holding on to first place, and the German eventually saw out the race at Albert Park as it proved to be virtually impossible for overtakes on the weekend. A mistake from Mercedes, but nothing to worry about, right?

However, the next two races saw Ferrari snatch a one-two in qualifying on both occasions. Vettel won in Bahrain, and Daniel Ricciardo was the unlikely victor in Shanghai. Mercedes is left scratching its collective head, as the German team look off the pace since Melbourne.

"We’ve lost performance since Melbourne and maybe more so this weekend," Hamilton said after the China Grand Prix.

"We are the second, or third fastest team at the moment so we have some improving to do but that’s not impossible.

“I think what this team has shown over the years that we are great at staying united and continuing to power on and keep working.”

Hamilton said that it's the car that he's not comfortable with, as he feels that he is on his A-game.

"I came prepared exactly the same as always, I just struggled with the car.

"Rather than blame it on the weather or strategy, or anything else, I just… I was uncomfortable in the car this weekend, well Saturday and Sunday.

“To not have the pace, the pace level that I normally have, I got to take it upon myself to try and figure it out and move forward."