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DPA
Melbourne
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday that Ferrari will start Formula One's season opener as favourites, dismissing claims that he will be the~man to catch after~the retirement of reigning champion and former teammate Nico Rosberg.
Speaking at a press conference in Melbourne ahead of Sunday's race, Hamilton said he had been impressed by Ferrari's pre-season form.
"I see Ferrari being the quickest at the moment and I think they will definitely be the favourites," Hamilton said~at the press conference, flanked by~McLaren's Fernando Alonso, Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.~
"Sebastian [Vettel] normally uses a~lot more hype, and I can tell that (he is)~obviously trying to keep a lid on it, but their pace was obviously great in testing."
On March 10, Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen posted the fastest time on the final day of testing in Barcelona at the~Circuit de Catalunya. A day earlier,~teammate Sebastian Vettel also clocked the fastest time of the day.~
The 32-year-old Briton said a~raft of technical~changes to the cars~for the~new season would pose a challenge to his~Mercedes team, who have won the last three constructors'championships.
"As far as I am aware, no team has won back-to-back through regulation changes. That is our goal as a team this season," Hamilton said.~
"Whether or not we are in the right place at this moment in the season, we'll find out. But I have every belief in the team that we can do that."
