Mercedes in Monaco Grand Prix most unusual Hamilton has felt

Mercedes was on the backfoot all weekend in Monaco, failing to get on top of managing tyre temperatures with its W08.

That paved the way for Ferrari to take a one-two finish that has helped Sebastian Vettel open up a 25-point advantage in the championship over Hamilton, who regrouped from a troubled qualifying to salvage seventh.

The source of its problem with the ultra-soft compound is yet to be identified, but Hamilton was harder hit than team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who started third and finished fourth.

"It was not a happy car, that's for sure," said Hamilton.

"It was the most unusual way the car has felt in all the years I've been with the team. Definitely a difficult one.

"But I think that doesn't deter the fact that we have a great car.

"It's just perhaps we didn't hit the nail on the top of the head this weekend.

"So we'll regroup, get the car back to where we know it's comfortable for the next races, try to understand the ultra-soft tyre a bit better and come back stronger."

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff described the team's 2017 challenger as 'a bit of a diva', and very particular about its operating window, during the Monaco weekend.

Hamilton conceded Ferrari was making gains because its SF70H appears well balanced on all types of tracks and in all conditions.

"Ferrari seems to work everywhere, so these next 14 races will be very very difficult," he said.

"They've had probably the strongest car all year, a bit like our car last year where it just worked everywhere.

"This car currently is not working every single race we go to.

"But the more races we do, the more we learn and the stronger we get.

"We still came away from here with some points. We know that the Ferraris are not bulletproof, they've got things potentially coming up - all the [engine components] they've used or potentially used, so we'll see."