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 strugg🌌led to match Daniel Ricciardo 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 session꧃s 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 b🎀y just how quick, but is refusing to give up on hopes of winning in Singa❀pore for a third time.

"The Red Bulls are very quick, as we expected. Perhaps a litt🍨le ꦦmore 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 get third I’m thꦏinking about winning.

"Of course we want to💝 make sure I’m ahead of Seb🐟astian [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 don’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 w♔hich is a good thing."