MANAMA, Bahrain — Lewis Hamilton has stated he’s a fighter and has no plans to go away Formulation One if he’s unable to problem for a title this 12 months with Mercedes.

The seven-time champion did not win a race final season for the primary time in his 16-year profession and goes into the brand new season anticipating to be off the tempo of reigning champion Max Verstappen, who appeared just like the quickest driver in testing.

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Hamilton’s Mercedes group gave the impression to be behind rivals Purple Bull and Ferrari, however he stated recommendations that he would stop on the finish of the 12 months when his contract runs out had been vast of the mark.

“It is finally … individuals creating rumors with out details,” Hamilton stated. “It is by no means useful.

“You’ll have thought they’d have each identified by now. I have been with Mercedes since I used to be 13. Having a troublesome 12 months we had final 12 months, nonetheless right here, whether or not or not we have now a troublesome 12 months this 12 months, I am going to nonetheless be right here.

“I am a fighter, and we struggle as a group. I like the problem of discovering options and attempting to, I nonetheless imagine I can put the automotive in locations that others are maybe not in a position to, and I like that problem.

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“In fact I want that we begin the season with an incredible automotive. Nevertheless it’s the journey I feel that actually counts.

“So there isn’t a maintain up with our contract. I’ve at all times been very, very relaxed. I do not really feel like I’ve obtained to get it achieved proper this second. I am in a really lucky place. It will get achieved after we’re prepared.

“I’ve an incredible relationship with Toto [Wolff] and Mercedes, and we totally help one another. I am actually excited concerning the future collectively. We’ll get there.”

Hamilton stated he knew from his first lap in Mercedes’ new automotive that he would possibly battle in the beginning of the season, however believes the group has a a lot stronger platform to construct on than final 12 months.

“I knew from the second I drove the automotive the place we had been and the challenges that we might be going through,” he stated. “On a optimistic, not having the bouncing this 12 months is a large plus, and it actually form of, I feel attempting to know what the issues had been while having that bouncing actually masks so many, it makes it troublesome of work out what these are.

“So we do not have that now, and now we will concentrate on simply pure efficiency.

“I am inspired to see simply the main target and the braveness of everybody with the group, so centered on getting us again to the highest. We’re not the place we needed to begin a season, naturally. However this nonetheless is a multi-world championship-winning group and group of individuals. So I imagine in that.”

Assessing his rivals this 12 months, Hamilton stated Aston Martin, which appeared to have a robust check final week, had been within the combine with F1’s normal prime three, Purple Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.

He stated: “I am actually blissful to see that Aston has taken such a step ahead and they’re, so far as we all know, totally within the struggle. From all the info we have now, you do not know what gasoline hundreds individuals are on and these totally different sorts of issues — it’s kind of all over — however it appears like they’re very, very robust and so they might be combating proper on the entrance.

“We’ll discover out over the following day or so. I can not say whether or not they’re forward of us or we’re behind them, however I am hoping at all times that there might be extra than simply two groups or three groups within the combine.”