Lewis Hamilton has told BBC Sport that he does not expect Mercedes to be among the front runners of the first few races
But the Briton has also told reporters that he is "deliberately playing down expectations"
Hamilton has admitted that at the end of last season Mercedes were far behind the front runners in terms of speed and development, and that expecting them to come to the first few races and win is unrealistic. The Briton has also said that any positives that come from the first few races will be an added bonus.
"The guys have given it their best shot. To build them up and disappoint them, I don't want that to happen."
"Last season we were two seconds off the McLaren I was driving and Red Bull, and in the last race in qualifying it was 0.9 seconds," he told BBC Sport
Is Lewis covering his backside by playing down the Mercedes expectations? Or is he genuinely worried?
[source:
BBC Sport]
![Luca [OT]](/data/avatars/s/3235/3235113.jpg?1697196734){kind=avatar}