Lewis Hamilton believes Mercedes are no longer the favourites for any of the remaining six races this season and will therefore find it difficult to claim another victory.
Mercedes took eight consecutive wins at the start of the 2019 season before Max Verstappen broke their run in Austria. Lewis Hamilton has gone on to win two races since, but neither Hamilton or Bottas have won a race since Hungary, with Ferrari emerging as the biggest threat to take three wins on the trot now.
Asked about his and Mercedes' chances in the final six races, Hamilton highlighted the United States and Brazil as their best chance of winning, but doesn't reckon they're favourites for any.
"I think Austin could be good for us," the five-time champion said. "The ones where we have the longest straights, it’s hard to offset those long straights, like here [Russia], Mexico’s not an easy one.
"Where else is there… Brazil could be good for us, because we’re generally working well in the hotter circuits in general, and there’s that one big straight but it’s not a killer elsewhere.
"I think all the other races have quite long straights. I don’t think we’re going to be favourites at any of the next six races, but it doesn’t mean we can’t win."
Hamilton says that will rely on them doing a good job on Saturday to put them in the best position for the victory.
"I think if we get the car in the right position for qualifying and enable ourselves to qualify in the right position – I think we generally have been stronger in most of the race trims. Position is really everything. I don’t think we’re going to be the favourites in these races, but I think we can still turn heads."
Hamilton currently leads the standings with 296 points – 65 more than team-mate Valtteri Bottas and a comfortable 96 over both Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen – therefore finishing third at every race would be sufficient to claim the a sixth title.
