Hamilton confident F1 midfield closer to front-runners

Lewis Hamilton believes Formula 1's midfield teams will be closer to the front of the grid in 2019 than in recent years, saying the gap could be as small as half a second.

Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull have dominated proceedings in F1 for the past six seasons, with the last victory for a team outside of that trio coming at the start of 2013.

The teams ran comfortably clear of the midfield teams throughout last season, but Hamilton thinks this gap may have been cut heading into 2019, as well as anticipating a closer fight with Ferrari and Red Bull at the front of the field.

"No, I think it is the three teams [in contention at the front], but also the teams at the back have closed up as far as I’m aware," Hamilton said.

"The whole pack has closed up. I don’t know which team is fourth currently, but they are a lot closer than they were before. There was like a second gap before but now they are within half a second or maybe less, which is awesome.

"So depending on how their development is during the year and whether they have the capacity to develop as quickly as the top three teams will be the question, but it will be exciting.

"Maybe we will some races where Renault or the Racing Point will be a lot higher than they were in the past."