Mercedes vs Ferrari: On the same line before qualifying?
The first few laps in Bahrain were to Ferrari's advantage, "a few tenths" ahead of Mercedes in race pace, according to Lewis Hamilton. But the Briton didn't get the chance to show his talent to the full on Friday. So, who's bluffing?
43 points on the scoreboard. A perfect tie before the third round of the season. Sebastian Vettel’s inaugural victory under the Melbourne sun was followed two weeks later by Lewis Hamilton’s success on the Shanghai track, in changing weather conditions.
This Friday in Sakhir, the German driver dominated both practice sessions. Quick at noon and at sunset, Vettel led the discussions, but with a narrow margin. The observation is even more frequent if we focus only on the flying lap exercise during FP2, the only reference session of the day. With a time of 1:31.310 on the super-soft tire, Vettel was only 0.284 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
A performance margin for Mercedes?
An ideal opportunity, in short, for the Mercedes driver to shed the status of favorite. The three-time world champion willingly handed over this burdensome mantle to his rival, in a game he has enjoyed playing since the beginning of the season.
« It was very close, with Ferrari being the fastest team. In race conditions, they seem to be a few tenths ahead. So I expect a great battle, both for qualifying and the race! We will work as hard as possible so that we can close the gap. »
However, doubt is allowed regarding his true level of competitiveness in the flying lap exercise. His best performance was ruined in the second sector by Nico Hülkenberg’s Renault, moving slowly and right in the middle of the trajectory. A few seconds earlier, the Briton was ahead by two-tenths compared to Sebastian Vettel’s reference…
FASTEST SECTORS: 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧#BahrainGP 🇬🇧 #FP2 pic.twitter.com/lmp8oU13Pz
— Formula 1 (@F1) 14 April 2017
In any case, following the private tests in Barcelona, the Mercedes showed nervousness during braking. Let’s not forget that Lewis Hamilton missed the first corner several times. Stability issues were confirmed by Valtteri Bottas’ lap times. The Finn reached the 20-lap mark on super-soft tires. However, degradation became significant from the 12th lap of the stint. He finished the stint struggling, with a final lap time of 1:37.9!
Despite this, and once again losing his T-Wing, the Finn remains enthusiastic for the continuation of hostilities:
« Everything went well: the car behaved well. But we can do even better. I look forward to the qualifications; it will be tighter than ever. Every little extra we find will be crucial for the qualifications and for the race. »
Dominant here a year ago, the advantage gained by Mercedes is this time called into question on a track that favors both engine power and good traction out of slow corners. An area in which the SF70H has excelled since its debut in Barcelona. All of this is coupled with numerous improvements for this third weekend of the season.
Ferrari resists minor issues
Armed with a new front wing and a new floor, the advantage taken by Ferrari remained slim. All the more reason for Sebastian Vettel not to get carried away, as he did not respond directly to Lewis Hamilton.
« I don’t know exactly where we stand. The car seems good on a flying lap. As for the race simulation, I am not completely happy, I was hindered by traffic. We can improve. »
For once, the driver clad in the red suit had to reassure the journalists about the reliability issue encountered in FP2. His unexpected stop in the third sector is primarily due to an electronic problem.
« There was a sort of bug and everything suddenly went black on my steering wheel. There was no damage to my car. I was lucky to be able to make it back to the pits! »
Eight times on the podium in Bahrain, Kimi Räikkönen has shown that he will be a contender. The Finn was one of the fastest during the super-soft tire simulation in FP2, just like Daniel Ricciardo.
« It’s still too early to say anything here. I like this circuit, even though it has nothing special compared to other places. Obviously, it’s very hot and this could be tricky for the tires. »
Affected by his turbo overheating in FP1, “Iceman” will benefit from a brand new engine for the rest of the program, after the complete change of his power unit during the lunch break.
Something to fight for victory, if the trend in Melbourne holds true, where high temperatures would favor Ferrari. The Italian team will certainly be served, with temperatures around 30 degrees on the Bahraini tarmac.
On pole in Melbourne and Shanghai, will Lewis Hamilton’s skill allow him to save the day for a third consecutive time?
FP2 highlights: top three teams neck-and-neck, despite some power trouble and a few harsh words… #F1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/OHswBlbbaO
— Formula 1 (@F1) 14 avril 2017
