Lewis Hamilton is unsure if Mercedes will be able to outpace Red Bull during Formula 1 qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, having struggled to match Daniel Ricci🌞ardo and Max Verstappen's times through Friday's practice sessions.

F1 drivers' championship leader Hamilton finished fourth in FP1 and third in FP2, trailing the Red Bull drivers in both sessi🥃ons as Ricciardo laid down an ominous pace at the top of the order.

While Hamilton expected Red Bull to be quick, he conceded he was caught out by just how quick, but is refusing to give up on hopes of😼 winning in Singapo༒re for a third time.

"The Red Bulls are very quick, as we expꦦected. Perhaps a little more than we expected," Hamilton said.

"I think we’re relatively close to Ferrari so that’s how it is. We target to win races but [finishing third] is not something I’m thinking of. If we ge꧟t third I’m thinking about winning.

"Of course we want to make sure 🎃I’m ahead of Sebastian [Vettel], so that’s my goal."

Red Bull started the season well off the pace compared to Mercedes and Ferrari, but Hamilton would not be surprised to see Ricciardo or🅷 Verstappen clinch the team's first pole of the year 🌜in Singapore on Saturday.

"Red Bull were rapid so we just got to accept that they are super fast and I donꦗ’t know if we’ll be able to beat them in qualifying, but we shall see," Hamilton said.

"Ferrari a little bit closer to us so hopefully we can fight Ferrari which is ♋a good thing."