Radio problems costing Mercedes points - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes' struggles with communication is starting to cost them points. Radio messages between the world champion and his team were often strained as he salvaged a third-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was won by Sebastian Vettel.

Ferrari star Vettel is two from two in 2018 after adding a supreme Sakhir victory to his sneaky win in Australia.

A software "bug" hindered Hamilton in Melbourne, where his team struggled to deliver answers over radio when Vettel had emerged from the pits ahead of him.

In Bahrain, the issue seemed reversed, with Hamilton's messages not getting through to his team as they tried to settle on a strategy to chase down Vettel, who managed to eke out 39 laps on soft tyres to hold off Valtteri Bottas for victory.

Having similarly surmised that communication was an issue in Melbourne, Hamiltn has now highlighted it as an area for major improvement among his team.

"Working out a rapport that works better is even more important than precise information," he said. "Because it is now at a point that mean positions and points for the championship."

"We will sit down and discuss the last two races. Different drivers require different feedback, some have more than others.

"If you listen to my radio over the years I don't have a ton but there are times when you need more.

"If you haven't spoken and set out a strategy of what feedback you need, then they are stressed in the garage because they have messages coming from the pit wall, and messages through the headphones and it is stressful for someone like Bono [race engineer, Peter Bonnington].

"We are going to work on it and improve it. All the engineers, everyone involved. We have to work out some sort strategy because I don't want them to keep talking to me when I don't need them to."