Lewis Hamilton finding 2017 Mercedes F1 car difficult to drive

Although Hamilton has won two of the year's first five F1 races, Mercedes has faced been challenged by Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, who leads the world championship.

Mercedes dominated the first three seasons of the turbo-hybrid era, and Hamilton says getting speed out of the W08 is requiring hard work.

"I quite like that the car is difficult to drive," the Briton said.

"It's like you watch people jump on the bull and try to tame the bull, try to tame a horse.

"It's the same kind of feeling you get in this car, when it's not easy, when it's a challenge.

"There are cars I've had in the past which have been beautiful to drive and very easy, a lot easier to set up.

"I like that this is a challenge, it really puts myself and my engineers on the edge.

"And it really makes us have to be a lot more meticulous with the decisions we make, the direction in which we go, and how I also have to work a lot harder to balance the car.

"As we understand it more and more, understand the tyres and understand the tools that we have, we'll refine them and the car will get easier to drive for sure."

While Mercedes is having to work hard to find a good balance with its 2017 challenger, Ferrari has found its SF70H to be quick in all conditions.

But Vettel, who has also won two races this year, played down the impact of the different characteristics when told about Hamilton's comparison of his car to a bucking bronco.

"I don't know. Maybe I don't find flowery words just to describe his car," he said.

"I think we have a good car. We are happy both the way it handles, and obviously you are always trying to do your best.

"If you are quick it doesn't matter how you manage to string it together.

"The end [result], that is what matters, that is what we are here to do.

"Sometimes it feels easier, sometimes it feels harder, it is always enjoyable if you can string it together and get a good lap out of it, or a lot of laps in the race.

"I haven't driven any other cars this year and I am not planning to, so I am happy with what we have. But we want to improve it.

"We are not happy where it stands now, we want to make sure it is better for the next race."