Does seem a bit silly but looks like it's all the way across the track. Better to have clean track to see who is fastest.
Could have a non-Mercedes front row tomorrow. Red Bull are bound to protest Bottas going purple through yellows and Hamilton holding up Sainz.
I can't believe the gap Mercedes have. Yes they're good and all but where do you find a one second margin in this day an age? Perhaps it's time (although far too late) for the rest to give up on the high rake concepts. Why is everyone still copying a now clear second best team.
Ironically Merc were saying that as Ferrari had a much more powerful PU last year they really concentrated on the PU to try and get close to them. Of course we all now know Ferrari did something iffy and they have lost lots of power, just look at all the Ferrari powered cars, they are all slower than last year!!!! Common thing PU!!! So Ferrari caused Merc to become even faster!!!! Even so the time gap is HUGE they really have something special or are very cleverly bending the rules
Unfortunately I think that was using softer tyres. Beaten by both a Ferrari and a Tracing Point on the mediums I believe.
Crikey, 1.1 seconds clear. Blown them away. The most bizarre things is that Ferrari and Red Bull are slower this year than last year. Completely unexpected (although we know now that Ferrari were cheating with the engine). There is something fundamentally better about the base of the Mercedes car rather than them being purely so far ahead on aero development. Something seems to bring everything together so well- a tremendous design again. You have to credit them even if us as viewers suffer
Other than in their championship winning seasons, it seems to me that Red Bull start the season nowhere near as close as I think they'd be, then have the best improvement over the season as they work out the aero-kink Newey didn't foresee.
I agree, I thought it was just my imagination. They do have a reputation of being able to develop fastest on the grid. I do wonder if that rep has been earned as they have to develop quick each year.
I can only assume that Honda have also lost power. For whatever reason Red Bull have also been slower than last year in the dry qualis. But I am starting to think that the high rake of the early 2010s has lost it's place at the top of the pecking order.
Maybe I am dumb (won't be for the first time) but I think the gap is in part due to the steering adjustment. Lewis is on fire, 0.3. seconds+ faster than VB. I think Merc morale is so high it creates the right culture. Not many go from Merc to the other teams, perhaps that will change with cost capping.
According to the BBC RP are saying the 7 day rule should apply so Perez can race , both the FIA and F1 are saying it’s the 10 day rule .