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."

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