Mercedes tell Lewis Hamilton he can no longer expect to be the fastest driver in the paddock as Ferrari outpace them
Team chief Toto Wolff admits Ferrari have a better car than Mercedes and are now favourites to win constructors' title
LEWIS HAMILTON has been told he can no longer expect to top the time sheets.
The warning comes from Mercedes' boss Toto Wolff, who has delivered an honest assessment of the team's struggles this season.
Despite enjoying three years of unopposed success, Mercedes have lost their crown to Ferrari as the Italian team now top the constructors' championship.
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And Wolff says the situation is "painful" that they are no longer the team to beat.
He said: "We've come into this season with a strong car that has allowed us to win three of the first six races.
"But it has also caused us more complications than we have seen in previous years.
"We have to fight with all that we are worth for every single win, pole position, podium finish and every point.
"You can no longer expect that when you look at a time sheet the two Mercedes will be right at the top.
"It's painful, but we are not the favourites for this year's championship.
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"At the moment it's Ferrari. They have a very strong package and we need to rise to the challenge to prove once again that we are the team to beat."
The season resumes this weekend in Canada where Hamilton will be looking to maintain his impressive record.
The Brit has won five times in Montreal while his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas was on the podium last season for Williams.
Wolff says the Brackley-based team are working hard to establish why their car struggles on certain race tracks.
But the Austrian has warned there will be no quick fix for Hamilton, who finished seventh last out in Monaco.
Wolff added: "Everybody at the factories is working absolutely flat out to assess the current difficulties we are facing - to define our objectives, work with the data we have and then come up with the right solutions.
"Some of these fixes will be short term, others may take longer. We've had bruising weekends before and it's about showing resilience and getting up after falling.
"I'm expecting an interesting weekend in Canada. It could be a tricky race for us in terms of the layout of the track. But, equally, it's a circuit that suits both of our drivers.
"Lewis has won a number of times in the past and Valtteri has always gone strongly there for Williams.
"It will be about doing our homework right to give the drivers the car they need to succeed."