The supposed Ferrari edge that makes China so vital
Although there appears to be little to choose between Ferrari and Mercedes for raw pace in China, Ferrari's advantage down the straights has Mercedes concerned. This weekend will show just how valuable that element will be
Mercedes narrowly set the pace on Friday in China, 24 hours after its drivers expressed quite severe concerns. Lewis Hamilton said Mercedes faces a "very, very hard" prospect of trying to cut into its Formula 1 rival Ferrari's major engine advantage, if the edge it had on the straights in Bahrain is real.
Valtteri Bottas added that making up a four tenths of a second deficit, which is roughly what Mercedes (more than once) thought it was losing on the straights at the previous race, is "very difficult" over one season.
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