Hamilton: “We may not have the pace of the others”

Off the podium last year in the Principality, Lewis Hamilton knows that the game will not be easy this weekend against Ferrari, winner in 2017 in Monaco, and Red Bull, whose RB14s could show some verve on the urban circuit.

The world champion even sees it as one of the toughest tests to come for the German clan, despite preparation considered meticulous by the Briton. “We learned a lot from last year, insists the double Monegasque winner.

We are confident with our preparation. I think it's better than ever. We come out of the last race knowing that it's going to be one of the most difficult races for us.

If you look at the last race and the testing in February and even the recent testing (organized in Barcelona following the Spanish Grand Prix), the Red Bulls were particularly fast in the last sector – they are always very, very strong – and so you can imagine that they will be incredibly fast here.

I'm planning a tough weekend. Not one that's impossible but it's very tight and we may not have the pace of others. We'll find out the real pace tomorrow and a glimpse of what might happen here. »

No rush for an extension

Hamilton also returned to his contractual situation for the next season, a parameter which remains under discussion between the Briton and the team. Mercedes. But no need to be alarmed according to the main person concerned.

« There are no friction points, recognizes the former pilot McLaren. There’s just no rush, and I’ll do it at my own pace. There's no arguing with anyone else, there's no consideration for anyone else, it's just taking my time.

I just don't see the need to rush. I still have a contract in place, I'm enjoying the race and it's nice to let you guess what's going on. There's not really much more to add. If it’s not ready this week, and it’s not ready the next week, it’s not ready…no stress. I'm not going to insist on this. »