Lewis Hamilton says title 'not impossible' for Mercedes, but sizeable gains needed

Lewis Hamilton believes Mercedes need to find a "big step" with their W04 if they are to have a serious say in the World Championship fight - but isn't expecting an immediate breakthrough for the British GP.

Despite cutting something of a downbeat figure through the Canadian GP weekend - the 28-year-old revealed after the race that he has "just got stuff on my mind" - Hamilton says he is doing his best to keep motivation levels high at Mercedes and pushing the team to accelerate their development programme. "I've just said to the guys we need to work harder," he was quoted as saying by the Guardian. "We have a great qualifying car, and it feels great in the race now. But we need to make another big step. There are things on other cars which we haven't got. "Things on the Ferrari and Red Bull, and I'll say: 'Why haven't we got that?' And they'll say: 'We're testing that in three weeks.' And I'll say: 'Why not test it now?' I always try to keep pushing the guys."