Lewis Hamilton is confident he will be in the mix for a first win of the season at Sunday's French Grand Prix, claiming Mercedes' struggles will make their next victory all the more satisfying.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton sits sixth in the 2022 drivers' standings, having failed to post a race win since losing the 2021 title to Max Verstappen in contentious circumstances.
The Mercedes star has been in improved form of late, however, recording three successive podiums after a run of seven outings without a top-three finish.
Having been badly affected by issues with the Silver Arrows' W13 car earlier this season, the 37-year-old is hopeful of a landmark success at Le Castellet on Sunday, in what will be his 300th Formula One race.
Asked if he had a realistic chance of victory in France, Hamilton said: "I hope so, that's what we're all working towards.
"I'm working towards getting that win so I do believe at some stage we will be able to compete with these guys, whether it's this weekend or in five races' time. The journey is the important part.
"I think we started off not where we wanted to be. We've made progress, and we've started to hit a patch of consistency. I'm really proud of the process. We've sharpened our tools in other areas, so when we do get back to where we deserve to be, I think we'll appreciate it that much more."
Hamilton has named Fernando Alonso as the toughest opponent of his career to date, as he professed his hope the 40-year-old, who has put together a run of six successive top-10 finishes with Alpine, will continue in Formula One for years to come.
"I think it's difficult to say who has necessarily been the strongest competitor because every time you're with someone, you're in a different place in your life," Hamilton said.
"I remember the task of being alongside Fernando when I was 22. I was so young mentally and, of course, OK in terms of skill, but it's a lot of pressure to go up against a great like Fernando.
"I would say on pure pace, Fernando [is the toughest]. We had some good battles.
"I wish we could have more. Hopefully he will continue to race, so hopefully we'll have more in the future."
Marquez to miss Argentina GP after undergoing hand surgery
Marc Marquez has been ruled out of next weekend's Argentina Grand Prix after undergoing surgery on his hand.
The six-time MotoGP champion suffered a fracture to the first metacarpal bone in his right hand in Sunday's Portuguese Grand Prix.
Repsol Honda confirmed on Monday that Marquez was operated on at the Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid and will spend a short period recuperating.
As a result of sitting out the next round in Argentina, the Spaniard will also miss the double long-lap penalty imposed on him by the FIM
Marquez was found guilty of irresponsible riding in Portimao when ploughing into Miguel Oliveira at Turn 3 early in the race, resulting in both riders dramatically crashing out.
The 30-year-old also forced Jorge Martin wide, which saw his compatriot lose several positions.
Speaking after the race, which he entered in pole position, Marquez accepted blame for the collision that cut his opening race of the season short.
"The most important is that Miguel is okay," he said. "I made a big mistake on Turn 3, in the first part, and this created everything.
"I braked and had a massive lock with the front tyre. That meant that I released the brakes. My intention was to go to the left side.
"But the bike stayed on a lean and I couldn't avoid going to the right side. I was able to avoid Martin but couldn't avoid Miguel. I was very worried because the contact was big.
"I already said it personally – but I want to say sorry to him, to his team, to the Portuguese fans.
"I have been penalised for that mistake with a double long lap penalty, that I completely, completely agree."
Marquez hit with double long-lap penalty for Portimao smash
Marc Marquez has been hit with a double long-lap penalty following his Portuguese Grand Prix crash on Sunday.
The six-time MotoGP champion started on pole in Portimao, but a costly mistake brought his race to a premature end.
Marquez ploughed into Miguel Oliveira at Turn 3 early in the race, resulting in both riders dramatically crashing out.
The Spaniard also forced Jorge Martin wide, which saw his compatriot lose several positions.
Marquez could miss the next round in Argentina, as he waits to discover if he suffered a fracture to the first metacarpal bone in his right hand.
If he is passed fit for that race, the 30-year-old will face a penalty after the stewards ruled that he was guilty of irresponsible riding.
Marquez said: "Honestly speaking, I am not worried about Argentina. Today, the most important is that Miguel is okay. Because I did a big mistake on Turn [3], in the first part, and this created everything.
"I braked and had a massive lock with the front tyre. That meant that I released the brakes. My intention was to go to the left side. But the bike stayed on a lean and I couldn't avoid going to the right side.
"I was able to avoid Martin but couldn't avoid Miguel. I was very worried for him because the contact was big.
"I already said it personally – but I want to say sorry to him, to his team, to the Portuguese fans. I have been penalised for that mistake with a double long lap penalty, that I completely, completely agree.
"But apart from that, I have a few injuries – my hand, my knee. We need to check. Let's see. At the moment it's not the most important, my situation."
Oliveira suffered from a contusion in his right leg on home soil in a race that was won by Francesco Bagnaia, who completed a double after his success in the sprint race on Saturday.
Bagnaia praises new Ducati after claiming MotoGP win in Portugal
Francesco Bagnaia praised his new Ducati bike, saying it suits his riding style as he clinched victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday.
On the first race weekend of the new MotoGP season, Bagnaia won the inaugural sprint race on Saturday, before also taking first place a day later.
The defending world champion finished ahead of Maverick Vinales and fellow Italian Marco Bezzecchi, and expressed his delight with his new bike at the post-race press conference.
"We worked so well on the tests that everything was prepared for the race, we were so on the limit," he said. "Compare that to two years ago and last year, the race time was so much faster.
"It was quite tough, the tyres were working so perfectly... I'm happy, everything went perfectly. This new bike suits very well my riding style, better than the old one, so we are fighting in a good direction."
Bezzecchi was surprised with his third-place finish to begin his second season after being the best rookie in MotoGP last year with 111 points, more than the other four rookie riders combined (Fabio Di Giannantonio: 24; Raul Fernandez: 14; Remy Gardner: 13 and Darryn Binder: 12).
"I am very happy. It's always nice to have some good results," the 24-year-old said. "Honestly, I wasn't expecting this because it's a track where I've never been so fast in Moto2 or in the previous year. Also, last year I was very slow, but this year I made a step and I'm very happy.
"The race was fantastic. I was able to escape the group behind me, and I was trying to catch Maverick but he was a little bit faster than me, especially at the end. But this gave me the possibility to escape, to have a good gap, and finally to get this podium."
Spaniard Vinales held on for second place, and is optimistic of competing at the front again in next week's Argentinian Grand Prix.
"I've been quite fast in Argentina for all the years," he said. "I don't know, I don't want to put anything on my head. I will go there, do the job, take out the maximum of the bike and then we will see.
"What I am sure of is that if we can get the maximum from the weekend, we will be fighting at the front."
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