Lewis Hamilton is confident that Mercedes are closer to Red Bull than this time last year and believes that his team can lay down the gauntlet to the constructors' champions.
As a result, Hamilton is 39 points behind Sergio Perez in the battle for second in the standings but is still hopeful of denying Red Bull their first-ever world championship one-two – as long as his team can get their gameplan right.
"We have definitely taken a step forward and over these next four races I can't predict which one we're going to be closer and which one we may or may not be further away,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.
"I think we were close here last year, so hopefully we'll be a little bit closer maybe this weekend.
"If we get the strategy right this weekend, maybe we can really take the fight to them."
The final four rounds of the 2023 season still offers plenty of opportunity for Mercedes to upset Red Bull’s dominance. Hamilton believes that it is in Mexico City and Sao Paulo where his team will have the best chance of taking their maiden victory of the campaign.
“Brazil was a great circuit for us last year, and if it turns out we're closer again there, then that's two great strong races for us,” the seven-time world champion added.
"And then when you go to Abu Dhabi, I think the gap gets bigger again, so it's these next two that I think we have our best chance."