Lewis Hamilton believes Mercedes are more than capable of fighting back to the top after falling down the pecking order in the opening races of the season.

From a dominant pole and first half to the race in Australia, it has gone downhill since with the world champion's behind Ferrari both in Bahrain and China with Red Bull right on their tails.

The gap between the top three teams is very small though, with strategy more than capable of making the difference rather than outright performance.

Even so: "We've lost performance since Melbourne, and maybe more so [in China]," Hamilton admitted to Motorsport.com.

"We've got some improving to do, but that's not impossible. What this team has shown over the years is that we are great at staying united, and continuing to barrel on and keep working.

"So I know everyone here and back at the factory is just going to keep pushing as hard as possible."

The tyres have been identified as the main area for improvement, having struggled to get the compounds into their right operating windows, but also a much more level playing field on engine performance, particularly with Ferrari, has been critical.

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Due to the current situation, therefore, the 33-year-old made an interesting admission regarding the championship.

"If it continues the way it is, it's going to be very tough to win," Hamilton conceded. "But if there's an opportunity, and we were to finish on top, it would mean even more as it's even a tougher season than before."

Haas F1 owner Gene Haas is confident the introduction of a budget cap in 2021 would allow more teams to compete at the front, including his own.

A figure of around $150m has been touted as part of a financial overhaul of the sport aimed at addressing the large inequality between teams at the front and those struggling at the back.

It has been met with negativity, unsurprisingly, by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff but considered essential by Williams deputy Claire Williams, indicating it was crucial to the team's future.

Speaking to the official Formula 1 website, Haas also lauded the concept.

“The budget cap is a game changer,” he said. “It will create a new raft of different winners and I guess there will be some losers on the other side."

The American motorsport mogul also believes his team, only in its third season, is one of the best-placed to take advantage.

“If and when the cost cap comes, I think we’re in a good place," Haas claimed.

"Our biggest advantage is we’re adaptable to change quickly because we’re new at it, we can adapt quickly. The bigger, more established teams have a harder time as they are like a big boat, they just don’t move quickly.

"Flexibility is our advantage."

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Gene did admit though, that if his team did not reach the competitive level he wants, he would be willing to pull the plug.

“When we start losing, we don’t want to be here,” he stated. “If I can’t keep going forward, there’s no use being in F1 but I still think our model keeps us going forward."

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has earned the wrath of IndyCar again, this time for his comments on Formula 1 potentially moving toward same-spec cars.

At the start of the year, the Italian-born chief angered the American motorsport community by suggesting none of the current IndyCar or NASCAR drivers are ready for a seat in F1.

Now, as the sport's bosses continue negotiations over the future direction of regulations, Steiner followed a lead from Ferrari but suggesting greater standardisation would go against the ethos of F1.

“If F1 goes [towards] spec cars I think it is the end of F1," he told Motorsport.com. "It’s the pinnacle of motorsport. Technology is still important.

"As much as we don’t think people are interested, a lot of people are interested in technology, not only in racing and I think F1 is a good showcase for technology.

"We should not dumb F1 down like IndyCar, because then you have got GP1 and we know where that one is going."

 That last comment was met with a swift takedown by former IndyCar champion and now Formula E commentator Dario Franchitti.

"Yeah, who wants to watch a series with overtaking and drivers making a difference?" he tweeted. "There’s a big difference between some spec parts and 'dumbing down'."

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The Scot also hit back by pointing at Haas' model of buying parts in from Ferrari and outsourcing, in fact using the same chassis provider as IndyCar, Dallara.

"Isn’t the Haas car built and developed by others?" Franchitti suggested. "Seems Steiner's only qualification is making misinformed comments."

Renault technical director Bob Bell believes the Enstone team should be "reasonably pleased" with their position in the pecking order in what he described as a "nip and tuck" midfield.

This season, the French manufacturer was expected to continue their strong progress up the grid, after ending last year arguably as the fourth fastest team. Instead, they find themselves as perhaps the most consistent midfield team, featuring in the top 10 in all sessions.

While admitting "disappointment" that the gap to the front has if anything grown over the winter, Bell admits their barometer with one team is offering optimism.

"I think we are reasonably pleased with how we have positioned ourselves to McLaren, which we were very worried about when they came on board with the engine," he admitted to ESPN.

"It’s going to be nip and tuck with them all season, McLaren are going to develop — McLaren are very good at developing to recover any losses from the start. It’s going to be really close fought.

"We had hoped to be a little bit further ahead at the start but this isn’t an exact science and we know we can do a good development job in season." 

It isn't just the Woking-based team though that Renault have their eye on.

"Clearly, Toro Rosso and Haas have done a great job over the winter and are making life very difficult for us," Bell added.

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The performances of Nico Hulkenberg are also getting attention, with the German eclipsing on-loan teammate Carlos Sainz in the early stages.

"At the moment I do feel with all the seasons I’ve done, the experience, probably I’m doing amongst the best driving that I’ve ever produced," he commented. "So far I’m happy, but don’t praise the season too soon."

Asked why he feels his pace is particularly good with five straight points results since Brazil last year, the 'Hulk' added: "I think I feel pretty confident and happy, and these cars now with more downforce since last year’s generation of cars, probably it favours me more."

Once hailed as a future world champion, Sergio Perez still hopes he can get a second chance to prove himself at the top in Formula 1.

The Mexican rose to prominence in 2012 with Sauber with several stand-out drives, including just missing out on victory in a rain-hit Malaysian GP when a late error cost him the chance to pass Fernando Alonso.

Then a member of Ferrari's young driver program, he'd be snapped up by McLaren for 2013 but his arrival coincided with a dip in performance and he would leave after just one year, taking the seat at the Silverstone-based team he has kept ever since.

Now, with the possibility of several seats at top teams coming available, the 27-year-old is not being mentioned as an option with other names such as teammate Esteban Ocon and Carlos Sainz ahead and that frustrates 'Checo'.

"I think I’ve been doing a very strong job in the past seasons so in that side there is not a lot I can do. It’s hard to show," he told RaceFans.net.

"I finish in the last two years seventh in the championship, in the front mix. So it’s hard for people to realise but I’m sure when they look at the performance.

"It’s not a coincidence I’ve beaten good drivers such as Hulkenberg, the time we spent together."

This season has begun on a much tougher note for Force India, with Perez yet to score a point after three races, however, he has no doubt that he hasn't lost any of his ability.

"I still have my aim one day I will get the chance to fight for the best possible results because I believe I am as good as anyone here," he stated.

"But in F1 it’s so much down to the potential of your team and your car. I hope that soon I can get an opportunity to show my full capacity."

Robert Kubica has revealed 2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg is no longer part of his management team having joined late last year.

It was hoped the German could use his past connection with Williams to secure the Pole a race seat for this season alongside Lance Stroll, however, those efforts would be unsuccessful with the 33-year-old settling for a role as reserve and development driver.

Instead, the additional backing and a stronger test performance in Abu Dhabi would see Sergey Sirotkin drafted in next to the Canadian.

“We did have a close work together at the end of last year, and we are in a good relationship, but for now, because I am doing what I am doing and he is very busy and he has his family, we are not working as close as we were last year, ” Kubica told Autosport.

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However, as the one-time Grand Prix winner still attempts to make a race comeback to F1, seven years after severe arm injuries had appeared to end his career, Kubica didn't rule out working with Rosberg again.

“A lot will depend on the situation and also it is kind of new everything for me to be back in the paddock," he admitted. “So we will see what the future will bring and then we’ll move on.”

Daniel Ricciardo could have two key deadlines ahead of him to decide his Formula 1 future beyond 2018 as rumours gather pace.

The Australian was always likely to be the main focus of the driver market for next season even before once again putting his overtaking prowess on display to take victory at the Chinese GP just over a week ago.

However, since Shanghai, his stock has sky-rocketed and now the latest speculation is an agreement between the current Red Bull man and Ferrari for talks over a potential move for next year has likely been signed.

“There are many different types of contractual options, but this one is said to be on both sides up to a defined date (reportedly June 30). Up until that time, neither party can officially negotiate with another,” reports Motorsport Magazine writer and Sky Sports analyst Mark Hughes.

"The driver is effectively locking himself out of the market for that time, discussions for his post-2018 services are contractually ‘owned’ by the team in this case Ferrari."

Hughes describes such agreements as "conventional" in F1 and also explains why there is high confidence that the talks are taking place with the Scuderia.

“Those privy to such matters at Red Bull are adamant that he has definitely signed something, somewhere but it’s not with them and it’s not with Mercedes. Logically, therefore, it must be Ferrari,” he claimed.

This comes despite many people anticipating Ricciardo would be more likely a target for Mercedes to replace Valtteri Bottas or, as ex-F1 driver Martin Brundle suggested, potentially even Lewis Hamilton, with his own contract talks still ongoing.

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All this is leaving Red Bull in limbo and now team boss Christian Horner has stepped up the pressure by setting his own deadline for the six-time Grand Prix winner to make his call.

"There should be a decision by the summer break at the latest. We do not want to wait forever,” the Briton told Auto Motor und Sport.

"We have other good options. Our priority is to continue working with Daniel, but if that doesn't work out, we'll look to those other options."

Those options are Carlos Sainz, currently on loan from Red Bull at Renault with Pierre Gasly forcing his way into the picture after his recent performance in Bahrain.

Lewis Hamilton still has a very big goal he wants to achieve with Mercedes before he calls an end to his career, despite current uncertainty.

The four-time world champion is out of contract with the UK-based German manufacturer at the end of this season and, despite persistent claims a new deal is imminent, so far it remains unsigned.

A failure to win any of the opening three races in 2018 and problems extracting pace has only added to the speculation, however, in a video commemorating his 100th race with the team in Bahrain, the 33-year-old insists he remains committed.

“My hope for the future is that we continue – continue to grow, excel and always move forwards," he said. "Obviously, to build our relationship, but I really want to take this team the furthest it has ever been.

“I want to be part of this journey where Mercedes are the most successful Formula 1 team in history. I think it would really upset the red cars and the red team, so that’s my goal…”

Legendary triple world champion and now non-executive chairman Niki Lauda also claims a deal "in principle" has been agreed to keep the Briton for 2019 and beyond.

During the interview, Lewis spoke about how his relationship with the Austrian had started when he was considering his future at McLaren in 2012.

“I remember being in Monaco, down by the pool and Niki calling me and he’s like 'We want you!'," Hamilton recalled.

"We had never really ever spoken, me and Niki. He didn’t have a good view of me. I don’t know why. He didn’t really know me. We hadn’t even met and had a conversation.

"When we started talking, particularly when we first met, we started to realise that we had a lot in common and we were very similar in our views of racing – like ‘Actually, he’s not a bad dude!’"

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As for what particularly convinced him to join Mercedes though, he added: “Ross [Brawn] came to my Mum’s house and sat my kitchen, which was pretty cool.

"Growing up watching Michael winning all those championships, seeing Ross on the pit wall for all those Grands Prix and I’ve got the guy in my Mum’s kitchen asking me to, basically, replace Michael.

“I love the idea that you watch Michael go to Ferrari and take them from not being successful. Being a part of that journey and winning – it looked amazing to watch and I wanted to do something like that.

“I’d already done everything I think I could have done at McLaren. I saw Mercedes as this baby about to start growing into something and I wanted to be a part of it. People saw it as a big risk but I’m a risk taker and that’s exciting. If you’re not taking risks, you’re not living.”

Felipe Massa claims Williams' poor start to the season is a result of the decision to prioritise money over talent with their driver line-up for 2018.

The Brazilian ended his Formula 1 career with the British team at the end of last year, bringing a four-season stint to a close which had arguably seen the team gradually fall down the order.

He would be replaced by Sergey Sirotkin with the Russian offering greater financial backing than his main rival and many people's preferred choice, Robert Kubica, who instead took on the role of reserve and development driver.

However, three races into this year, Williams sit bottom of the Constructors' Championship as the only team yet to score a point.

“It’s true that the team was suffering from the financial situation and I think they made decisions for 2018 putting money first,” Massa told Motorsport.com. “But this is not enough to make a competitive championship."

Along with Canadian Lance Stroll, the two drivers are believed to offer around $90 million in revenue, with Williams reported a 30% increase in profits late last week.

However, deputy team boss Claire Williams has suggested that a failure to introduce a budget cap in 2021 could spell disaster for the historic team's future.

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As for Massa, the 37-year-old admits he is pleased he left the team when he did.

“All I can say is that I came out with my head held high. I have a good relationship with everyone at Grove and I hope that the best for the team comes out as soon as possible," he said.

“But I can add that I’m happy to have made my decision last year. I chose the right time and now I’m enjoying my life. I hope Williams can recover.”

For the second time in a month, Spanish publication Diario Gol has reported Fernando Alonso will leave McLaren at the end of this season.

Initially, it was suggested the double world champion could be forced out as the British team look to save costs following the drop in revenue caused by the decision to split with Honda at the end of last year.

Now though, the same source is claiming the 36-year-old has become "increasingly frustrated" at McLaren's inability to produce a car that allows him to compete with Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

As a result, Alonso will quit Formula 1 and potentially focus on his WEC 'superseason' with Toyota with F2 driver and current reserve Lando Norris stepping up to replace the Spaniard, Diario Gol concludes.

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Once again, this is considered purely a speculative piece, particularly with Fernando himself insisting McLaren is the "place to be" in China after his manager Flavio Briatore said he should make himself available for a seat either at Mercedes or Ferrari for 2019.

Currently, it is believed Alonso signed a one-year extension to his contract for this year with the option of extending for next year.