Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes targets Red Bull after strong podium finish in Spain

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 champion, has hailed Mercedes as the sport's "strongest team" and has set his sights on overtaking Red Bull in the championship standings.

The declaration came after Mercedes introduced significant upgrades to their W14 car, resulting in a double podium finish at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Mercedes had been grappling with performance issues since the implementation of new technical regulations last season. Their sole glimmer of hope came when George Russell secured victory in a Mercedes one-two at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last year.

However, ongoing struggles with the 'zeropod' concept prompted the team to introduce a series of changes ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. The true impact of these modifications became evident at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The weekend proved fruitful for Mercedes, as Lewis Hamilton finished second behind Max Verstappen's Red Bull, with teammate George Russell in tow. This result propelled the Brackley-based outfit to second place in the Constructors' standings, surpassing Aston Martin.

When asked about Mercedes' prospects for further improvements, Hamilton said to Sky Sports F1, "Definitely - as long as I have been racing, if you are quick [in Spain], you should be quick elsewhere." He acknowledged that the narrow working window of the cars could pose challenges at certain tracks but expressed optimism about the team's strength.

Hamilton emphasized the strong partnership between himself and Russell, stating, "George and I are punching out great results weekend in and weekend out." He concluded by affirming Mercedes' determination to enhance their performance and catch up to the Red Bulls.

Mercedes will now turn their attention to the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, scheduled from June 16 to 18.