Ferrari has something up its sleeve for F1 Australian GP - Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari has "something up their sleeve" going into the Formula 1 season-opening Australian Grand Prix this weekend
In pre-season testing, while Mercedes dominated in terms of reliability, Ferrari emerged quickest on five of the eight days at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.
The suggestion has been Mercedes was sandbagging, but reigning champion Hamilton said: "This year the whole pack looks like it's a little closer.
"But I think they [Ferrari] have something up their sleeve, personally, this weekend.
"The Ferraris, they are going to be a lot closer than they are talking."
Asked whether it was a challenge he welcomed, Hamilton said: "Absolutely."
Sebastian Vettel, who in 2015 was the only other driver to win races aside from Hamilton and team-mate Nico Rosberg, feels Ferrari can give Mercedes a better run for its money this year.
Asked whether Ferrari has what it takes to challenge this year, Vettel said: "I think we have. The question is whether we are ready in time.
"We are on a good track, we are making progress, we did so last year.
"We have made a step, whether it is big enough, we will have to see.
"Going into this season, I do not think it is a surprise to say Mercedes is still favourite, but we will try to be the favourite in the future."
Throughout testing Mercedes' focus was on mileage on medium tyres, proving reliability, with the quicker soft tyres barely touched.
Hamilton feels the plan could have been different as he would have preferred more performance running to get a better feel of the car with regard to its pace.
"Performance runs are always the most fun," he added.
"The long runs are...long, unexciting, but we did what we had to do.
"We went into testing with a goal of achieving 800 kilometres per day. We didn't actually think we would do that.
"Perhaps with hindsight we would have shifted our running, but at the end of the day it suited us perfectly."
Previous article
Aston Martin makes return to Formula 1 with Red Bull tie-up
Next article
Ricciardo 'has to respect' Hulkenberg's halo concept reservations
The ‘backwards step’ that is the right move for Formula 1
OPINION: With its days apparently numbered, the MGU-H looks set to be dropped from Formula 1’s future engine rules in order to entice new manufacturers in. While it may appear a change of direction, the benefits for teams and fans could make the decision a worthwhile call
The floundering fortunes of F1’s many Lotus reboots
Team Lotus ceased to exist in 1994 - and yet various parties have been trying to resurrect the hallowed name, in increasingly unrecognisable forms, ever since. DAMIEN SMITH brings GP Racing’s history of the legendary team to an end with a look at those who sought to keep the flame alive in Formula 1
Why the 2021 title fight is far from F1's worst, despite its toxic background
OPINION: Formula 1 reconvenes for the Russian Grand Prix two weeks after the latest blow in ‘Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton’. While the Silverstone and Monza incidents were controversial, they thankfully lacked one element that so far separates the 2021 title fight from the worst examples of ugly championship battles
How F1’s other champion to emerge from 1991 thrived at Lotus
Mika Hakkinen became Michael Schumacher’s biggest rival in Formula 1 in the late-90s and early 2000s, having also made his F1 debut in 1991. But as MARK GALLAGHER recalls, while Schumacher wowed the world with a car that was eminently capable, Hakkinen was fighting to make his mark with a famous team in terminal decline
The forgotten F1 comeback that began Jordan’s odyssey
Before Michael Schumacher – or anyone else – had driven the 191 (or 911 as it was initially called), Eddie Jordan turned to a fellow Irishman to test his new Formula 1 car. JOHN WATSON, a grand prix winner for Penske and McLaren, recalls his role in the birth of a legend…
The squandered potential of a 70s F1 underdog
A podium finisher in its first outing but then never again, the BRM P201 was a classic case of an opportunity squandered by disorganisation and complacency, says STUART CODLING
The other notable Monza escape that F1 should learn from
OPINION: The headlines were dominated by the Italian Grand Prix crash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who had the halo to thank for avoiding potentially serious injury. But two days earlier, Formula 1 had a lucky escape with a Monza pitlane incident that could also have had grave consequences
How Monza only added more questions to F1's sprint race conundrum
With two sprint races under its belt, Formula 1 must now consider its options for them going forward. While they've helped deliver exciting racing on Sundays, the sprints themselves have been somewhat lacking - creating yet another conundrum for F1 to solve...
