Hamilton warns Mercedes has "a long way to go" after "difficult" Bahrain podium

Lewis Hamilton has insisted his Mercedes team will "keep our heads down" after capitalising on Red Bull's misfortune to steal a podium at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Silver Arrows struggled for pace throughout the opening race of the season and at one point, Hamilton was 47 seconds adrift of eventual winner Charles Leclerc before the safety car was deployed late on to retrieve Pierre Gasly's burning AlphaTauri.

This closed the gap to the top four and although fifth looked to be the best outcome for the seven-time champion, the retirements of both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez elevated him into the podium positions.

"I know the guys are working really hard back at the factory and it is not going to be a quick turnaround," said Hamilton.

"But I know, we all know as a team that we have been the best-unified team for so long, I know that we all will keep our heads down, keep working, there is a long, long way to go."

Congratulating Ferrari after the Italian team secured a one-two finish with Carlos Sainz trailing Leclerc, Hamilton added: "[I'm] so happy to see them doing well again.

"They are such a historic, epic team so it is good to see Carlos and Charles up there as well so congratulations to them.

"I think it was such a difficult race. We struggled throughout practice. This is really the best result we could have got. It was unfortunate for the other two drivers and we are grateful for these points."

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