Hamilton: Red Bull & Ferrari challenge good for F1

Lewis Hamilton hopes for a three-way title fight in the 2018 Formula 1 season, with Ferrari and Red Bull challenging Mercedes. The Silver Arrows once again dominated the team standings last year to win a fourth consecutive constructors' championship, but Hamilton says greater competition is better for the sport.

Mercedes finished 146 points ahead of the Scuderia last year, while Hamilton eased to his fourth title after Sebastian Vettel's challenge fell away.

Though dominance of the hybrid era has helped Hamilton win three titles and break numerous records, the champion has continually expressed hope for a fairer fight in 2018.

"Of course, the ultimate goal is that we hopefully have more teams fighting for the championship," Hamilton said.

"I think there was one year where had six different winners in the first six races, or whatever it was [the first seven races of 2012 were won by different drivers]. That's only good for the sport.

"The more competition there is, the more fun it is to watch. Like you, I have grown up watching the sport, being a fan of it and seeing it when it's been a one-team championship and seeing it when there's been a couple fighting so I am really hopeful.

"I think Red Bull could be a real challenge this year, their car looks great and I haven't seen anything from what Ferrari have been doing, but for sure they’ll be good. It's going to be exciting."

Both Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas placed way down the timesheets in Barcelona, while Daniel Ricciardo and the Ferrari pair of Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen all put in lap times never before seen at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Hamilton is not perturbed, though, hailing how Mercedes went about their business across the testing fortnight.

"I don't know where we are in terms of the pack, but our week has been very good, very productive, we got through everything we needed," Hamilton said.

"Reliability has been fantastic and the car feels great. We haven't been working on balance or anything like that but in terms of some of the issues which we had last year, a lot of them, some of them at least, have been removed.

"But the track is a lot different what it used to be because they resurfaced it, and so it's kind of misleading at the moment.

"It's difficult to know until we get to Melbourne."