JUST IN: <\/strong> Inside Red Bull’s F1 title win party with hundreds of beers and Oasis singalongs<\/strong><\/p>\n “A team cannot just put all their hopes into the winter. Not much has changed since the start of last year. They appear to go into a race meeting not having a clue what to expect. If I was at the team I would not have confidence that the direction they are taking next year \u2013 whatever it is \u2013 is the correct one.<\/p>\n “They will probably be heading in the visual direction of Red Bull, but the visual side is only a small part in the overall performance of the car.”<\/p>\n Mercedes have slipped behind McLaren in terms of race pace over the last few weeks, with their British rivals having made plenty of progress after introducing a number of exciting upgrades. Ferrari have also improved considerably as of late, leaving Mercedes at risk of falling even further down the pecking order in the not-too-distant future.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> Hamilton, meanwhile, has already insisted that ‘the greatest six months of development’ will be needed over the winter for Mercedes to realise their faint hopes of catching Red Bull next season.<\/p>\n “I have no idea where the car is going to be next year, but we are a long, long way away,” said Hamilton after finishing fifth at Suzuka. “We\u2019ve got to hope the next six months has to be the greatest six months of development that we\u2019ve ever had just to close that gap, to be really banging on the door.<\/p>\n “The evidence is there with the McLarens, and we can\u2019t turn a blind eye to that, we\u2019ve got to look at what they\u2019ve done and go in that direction, that is the direction. But I truly believe my team can do it.”<\/p>\n Follow our Express Sport<\/i> page on Instagram <\/b>here<\/b>. <\/b><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/73\/590x\/secondary\/4978345.jpg?r=1695713060681\")
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Lewis Hamilton questions bizarre Mercedes call in Japan that ‘made no sense'[REACTION] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/73\/590x\/secondary\/4978352.jpg?r=1695713064603\")
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