Hamilton - Red Bull and Ferrari in "a different league" to Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton has conceded Ferrari and Red Bull are in a "different league" to Mercedes after he could only qualify fifth for the F1 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Hamilton ended qualifying 0.680secs down on pole-sitter Charles Leclerc, with Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez also ahead.

Asked by Sky Sports F1 if he was relieved with fifth given Mercedes' struggles during the early stages of the weekend, Hamilton replied: "Oh yeah, I am not saying I am relieved, I'm generally really happy with today.

"I think given where we have been the last two weeks, the struggles we have had, the problems we have had with the car, it has been a nightmare to drive.

"We have just kept our heads down and working away so I am just proud of everyone for staying positive.

"To get fifth in quali... those guys ahead of us are in another league so I am generally happy with where we are. It is not the front row but we will make improvements and we will do the best we can tomorrow."

On what he could do to take the fight to the top two teams, Hamilton insisted: "Those guys will be going away so we are not in the fight with those, they were a second ahead in race pace.

"My battle is with the guys behind most likely but, of course, I will try to be as fast as I can and get ahead but as I said their performance is quite a bit ahead of hours."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

'For f*** sake F1': Top Gear legend goes in hard over 'petty rules' at 'stupid track'

• 3 hours ago

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolf blasts 'bulls*** couch warriors' on Kimi Antonelli conspiracy

• Yesterday 21:57

F1 driver blamed by Sky Sports star as new Madring track flops - 'He was the ambassador'

• Yesterday 20:58

Lando Norris snaps at F1 official in cooldown room controversy: 'I do what I want'

• Yesterday 19:55

Max Verstappen launches extraordinary rant after Lewis Hamilton incident

• Yesterday 18:56

Lewis Hamilton concedes F1 title after Spanish Grand Prix disaster at Madring

• Yesterday 17:57