Red Bull surprises Hamilton: 'Didn't anticipate such a big step'

Hamilton remains confident

Hamilton has already won seven world titles, winning four in a row in the last four years. In 2021, however, things will be a lot more difficult. Red Bull Racing have come out of the starting blocks very strongly, and it's hard to get them back. Hamilton suspects Mercedes have underestimated the competition there.

''Ultimately, I trust in the team. I'm sure the team perhaps didn't anticipate that they would make such a big step because I would say we've not been able to necessarily make as big a step,'' the seven-time world champion said opposite Sky Sports.

Work to do for Mercedes

''We do know that this year this floor adjustment that was made, we lost a lot more downforce than they did. So we've been working at a loss all year and I think we have done pretty well, but it's starting to really harm us.''

''We've got to try and figure out ways around it. Because they run such a high rake car it means they have had to remove less furniture from the inside of their rear wheels, so they just have more downforce than us. It makes it a little bit difficult. Not only that, they seem to have more power this year than we do so, overall, we've got work to do,'' the Mercedes driver concludes.