The seven-time champion already knows any shot at another title this year is gone as Mercedes have accepted they will have to change the design concept of their car with immediate effect after they finished fourth fastest in the field at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday. When asked if the direction Mercedes had chosen for the car was of concern, he was unequivocal. We know we are not where we need to be, we know this is not the right car. Hamilton was passed during the race by Fernando Alonso who went on to take third in the Aston Martin. Hamilton was looking toward what he and Mercedes could salvage with the commitment to improving this year’s ride. “It’s not the tyres, it’s the car, ” he said, “We have just got a lot of work to do.”.

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