Hamilton: Mercedes coming off most difficult winter yet

Lewis Hamilton has praised the efforts of the team behind the scenes at Mercedes for coming through what he has described as their "most difficult" winter during his time with the Silver Arrows due to the rule and aerodynamic changes to the cars for 2019.

Since the start of the V6 hybrid turbo era in 2014, Mercedes have won every constructor's championship, but the Brit believes the new regulations have presented the biggest challenge yet to them retaining in 2019.

“It’s been a difficult winter for the guys back at the factory,” Hamilton said.

“I could see it and I’ve heard from the guys, probably the most difficult one particularly with the rule change once again. But if anyone can do it, I truly believe it’s my guys. We are the only team to have won a championship in a cross over of a rules situation.”

Hamilton is currently in Barcelona for testing, with Ferrari having impressed with their pace at the Circuit de Catalunya last week. However, he doesn't believe the Scuderia should be viewed as Mercedes' only rival just yet considering the season hasn't even started.

W10 turning heads in the Barcelona sunshine ???? #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/6txSRMBOQ2 — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 26 February 2019

“I’m competing with everyone. I don’t know who’s going to be quickest. I think you can’t say just Ferrari," he continued.

“I don’t know where the Red Bulls are. I’m hopeful that there’s going to be more teams involved. But who knows what people are going to bring up when we get to the first race.

“Right now we’re competing against our past selves as a team. We’re really trying to raise the bar in all those areas. All the engineers back in the factory are raising the bar.

“It’s been super-impressive to see the atmosphere within the team after all these years of success that we’ve had. To see that the hunger is still there. To see the drive is still there. No one’s fazing out. No one’s back off. Everyone is pushing full steam ahead.”

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