The seven-time champion was blunt in admitting how far off the pace his team are and, despite an expected change in the design of the Mercedes car, did not anticipate catching Red Bull. “It is going to take us the rest of the year to potentially close that gap,” he said. “If you look at the Red Bull it is just going to continue to evolve most likely.

Follow MotorMouth on social media:

• 
• 
• 
•