Fierce competition with Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton breaks his silence

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has said that, despite his position in the title battle in the 2026 season, he has not asked the team for preferential treatment.

TodayPress TV reports, citing Motorsport, that the experienced driver emphasized the importance of focusing on teamwork rather than individual advantages:

“I really haven’t asked the team for any special privileges. The key is to do our job properly and achieve the best possible result for the team. Rather than getting in each other’s way and finishing fourth and fifth, we can work together, fight for the podium and score more points for the team.

If we look at the last race, Mercedes was about six-tenths of a second faster than us on the straights per lap. At most of the other tracks, the gap was around three or four-tenths of a second. We were losing time specifically on the straights. Considering this deficit, I think we did a great job and are continuing to improve the car. Although we know that the latest power-unit upgrade will not solve everything overnight, it is very encouraging that we are making progress step by step. Our rivals are genuinely very fast, and it is not easy to compete with them.

Therefore, we need to focus on our own performance rather than our rivals. There will be stages where they look incredibly strong, but there will also be races where they make mistakes. If we remain consistent and make the most of every weekend, we will have opportunities to capitalize on those mistakes.”

Namiq HUN