Hamilton says first target for Mercs is to improve on last year
Monday 28 January 2013 18:36, UK
Lewis Hamilton has told Sky Sports F1 he is ready to cope with the pressure of expectation attached to his move to Mercedes as he bids to help turn them into serial winners.
While Ferrari rival Fernando Alonso has predicted Hamilton will win at least one grand prix in 2013, Hamilton says Mercedes first task must be to focus on ensuring this season turns out to be better than last year, when they slumped to fifth in the Constructors' Championship. Asked what he thought would be a realistic position to finish in the championship this year, Hamilton replied: "Well, nothing but first is ever acceptable at least in my books, but of course we have to be realistic and know that we have got some serious competitors who have some good cars already that will be evolving into this year's car. So they're already starting from a good position. "For me, I think we want to do better than what they have done. Last year was a tough season for them. The guys are working towards having a better year than they did last year and anything further past that, ahead of where they were last year, is a positive." Johnny Herbert's full exclusive interview with Mercedes' star signing 'Inside Track: Lewis at Mercedes' is repeated at 7pm, and then 10pm, on Monday evening on Sky Sports F1, and then across the following days on the channel.
