Mercedes is up to 1.5s per lap slower than Red Bull, according to Hamilton, who reckons his F1 team needs some 'bold decisions' to be competitive again.
"Last year we were very draggy, and we were struggling not only on the straights, but we had to take a much bigger wing and we were equalling if not losing in the corners as well," Hamilton said when asked to explain where Mercedes' deficit is.
"So, I think in the race they weren't pushing and so I think they're a lot quicker than they even seemed. We have it as them being a second and a half faster in the race per lap or something like that. And while he explained on Thursday that it"wasn't necessarily the best choice of words" he did feel like Mercedes wouldn't be able to close the gap once he had seen the 2023 car's concept still looked vastly different compared to the competition.
"But what's important is that we continue to communicate, we continue to pull together, I still have 100% belief in this team."
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