Lewis Hamilton makes honest Max Verstappen admission ahead of F1 Belgian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton has opened up with Mercedes struggling in F1 this season
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Lewis Hamilton has admitted he can't see himself competing with Max Verstappen as things stand.
The Mercedes star has won seven F1 titles throughout his glittering career but, these days, it's his Red Bull rival who is dominating.
Verstappen has been in excellent form this season, winning nine races with Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez claiming the other two.
As Sunday's F1 Belgian Grand Prix edges closer, it's clear Hamilton has plenty of work to do.
Lewis Hamilton has admitted he can't catch Max Verstappen this season
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Speaking ahead of that race, the Stevenage-born racer has confessed he can't see himself competing with Verstappen any time soon.
“At the moment? Not quite sure we can currently compete with him [Verstappen]," he said.
“There were times in the last race when he was 0.8s faster than everyone on a single lap.
"But never say never.”
Throughout the season so far, Hamilton hasn't been afraid to vent his frustrations.
The 38-year-old has regularly called on Mercedes to improve, with the Silver Arrows struggling to scale the same dizzying heights of old.
But Hamilton is pleased with the work the team are doing as they look to close the gap.
“To be fighting for a World Championship! That’s always the expectation," he joked when asked what his expectations were.
“No honestly, to be in a much better position than we were last year and that wasn’t the case [at the start].
"Even with all the amazing work during the winter we started further behind.
“So it’s been a big, steep uphill climb but really proud of the team.
"We’re fighting for second in the constructors’ championship which is something we didn’t expect after the first test and that’s really down to the great teamwork that’s happening in the background.
“My full focus is to secure second for the team.
"That would mean a huge amount for everyone back at the factory and while we can’t currently catch the Red Bulls it puts us in a good position for next year.”
Should Verstappen win the title, as expected, it'll be his third triumph on the trot.
But Hamilton can see Mercedes making progress and believes that bodes well for the future.
“As a driver, you’re constantly battling the inconsistencies with balance but we are flat out trying to improve," stated the Brit.
“We’re working a lot to analyse where we are and what we can do to try and make those big steps that some of the others have, and I have all the faith in the world that we will eventually get there, too.
“We didn’t start where we wanted to be at the beginning of the year, but we have made a lot of progress.
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"It’s been a huge amount of progress over the season so far, and I’m hoping that there’ll be a lot more in the second phase.”