Lewis Hamilton predicts close Bahrain GP race between Mercedes and Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes walks in the paddock during previews to the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on May 12, 2016
© Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton admits that he does not expect Mercedes to be able to maintain their qualifying superiority over Ferrari at the Bahrain GP.

Lewis Hamilton has claimed that Mercedes will be pushed all the way by Ferrari on race day at the Bahrain GP.

Mercedes duo Valtteri Bottas and Hamilton were almost half a second clear of Sebastian Vettel in qualifying in the desert - the biggest margin of the year.

The world champions have taken pole for all three races in 2017 so far, but Hamilton claims that it will not be so easy in the race proper.

He told Sky Sports News: "I think the Ferraris are very quick on race trim so hopefully it will be very close. [On Saturday] we obviously had a bit of a margin to the Ferraris, but generally in race trim they seem a bit quicker."

Pole position for the Bahrain GP has been taken by Bottas - the first of his career.

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes celebrates his win on the podium during the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 12, 2016
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TeamPoints
1Ferrari37
2Mercedes33
3Red Bull10
4Williams-Mercedes8
5Force India7
6Toro Rosso6
7Haas0
8Renault0
9Sauber0
10McLaren0
DriversTeamPoints
1Sebastian VettelFerrari25
2Lewis HamiltonMercedes18
3Valtteri BottasMercedes15
4Kimi RaikkonenFerrari12
5Max VerstappenRed Bull10
6Felipe MassaWilliams-Mercedes8
7Sergio PerezForce India6
8Carlos SainzToro Rosso4
9Daniil KvyatToro Rosso2
10Esteban OconForce India1
11Fernando AlonsoMcLaren0
12Daniel RicciardoRed Bull0
13Romain GrosjeanHaas0
14Nico HulkenbergRenault0
15Kevin MagnussenHaas0
16Marcus EricssonSauber0
17Stoffel VandoorneMcLaren0
18Antonio GiovinazziSauber0
19Jolyon PalmerRenault0
20Lance StrollWilliams-Mercedes0