F1 pre-season testing: Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes improved but Red Bull still clear

Hamilton expanded on his decision to end his relationship with Mercedes, which is the most successful driver-team combination in F1 history, just a few months after signing a new contract with the team.

“In the summer, we signed and at that time I saw my future with Mercedes,” said Hamilton. “But an opportunity came up at the end of the year and I decided to take it.

“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. I’ve been with Mercedes, I think it’s 26 years they have supported me. We have had an absolutely incredible journey. We have created history in the sport and I am very proud of what we achieved but ultimately I am writing my story and I felt like it was time to start a new chapter.”

Hamilton added his interest in Ferrari had begun by watching Michael Schumacher driving for the Italian team in his youth. The German won five consecutive titles for Ferrari from 2000-04.

Hamilton said: “All of us see the screen pop up and you see the driver in the red cockpit and you wonder what it would be like to be surrounded by red.

“You go to the Italian Grand Prix and you see the Ferrari fans. It is a team that has not had huge success since Michael’s day and 2007, and I saw it as a huge challenge. Even as a kid, I used to play on GP2 as Michael. I’m really really excited by it.”

He said his relationship with Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur, whose team he drove for when winning the Formula 3 and GP2 titles before graduating to F1, was key.

“It really wouldn’t have happened without him,” admitted Hamilton.

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F1 pre-season testing, Bahrain, day three

1 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:30.322

2 George Russell (GB) Mercedes 1:30.368

3 Zhou Guanyu (Chi) Sauber 1:30.647

4 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:30.755

5 Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) RB 1:30.775

6 Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams 1:30.984

7 Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren 1:31.030

8 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Aston Martin 1:31.159

9 Carlos Sainz (Spa) Ferrari 1:31.247*

10 Sergio Perez (Mex) Red Bull 1:31.483*

11 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Haas 1:31.686

12 Lewis Hamilton (GB) Mercedes 1:31.066*

13 Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin 1:32.038

14 Lando Norris (GB) McLaren 1:32.108

15 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Alpine 1:32.895

16 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas 1:33.053*

17 Esteban Ocon (Fra) Alpine 1:33.079

18 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Sauber 1:33.528*

19 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) RB 1:39.327*

• = time set in morning session. Leclerc, Russell, Tsunoda and Albon set their best times on C4 tyres. Ricciardo on C1. Everyone else on C3. C1 is hardest.