Formula 1: Ferrari practice pace flattered by engine modes - Wolff
Mercedes believes Ferrari's strong pace in Friday practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix was flattered by the Scuderia using high-power engine modes
Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel led the way at the end of the second session, with Mercedes half a second adrift.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said his team was relaxed about the large deficit because of the power modes his team understands Ferrari was using in FP2.
"They were in a pretty high power mode when they were on the lap, so it isn't so worrying, but it is a good lap," Wolff told Sky Sports F1.
"It's quite amazing - we have GPS data, so you can follow the traces of every car.
"You can see that when you overlay the data, suddenly on the straights they gain much more time, and in the corners it's still the same.
"You can see that in detail, so it's become very transparent for the engineers how much somebody has turned up the power, and how much downforce, and how much drag everyone is running."
There was much focus on Mercedes' 'party' engine modes at the Australian Grand Prix in the wake of Lewis Hamilton's dominant pole position lap in Q3, but Mercedes' indications are that there is very little to choose between the performance of Mercedes and Ferrari.
Hamilton said in Bahrain on Thursday that Mercedes' understands Ferrari has eliminated its power deficit this season.
"They [the team] said in qualifying we think that we are power-wise equal to them," Hamilton said.
"They made a really big improvement. And [the team said] that in the race we might have a slight edge on them.
"It's hard to say from one race - they had a different run profile, particularly in the race they were doing something different fuelling wise.
"You'll get a much better idea over the coming races."
Previous article
Formula 1: Raikkonen quickest for Ferrari but suffers loose wheel drama
Next article
Formula 1: Raikkonen escapes grid penalty as Ferrari is fined
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Susie Wolff |
| Teams | Ferrari |
| Author | Glenn Freeman |
Starting Grid for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
F1 Fast Facts: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
How 2021's midfielders have taken lessons from F1's top teams
Formula 1’s latest Imola adventure turned into an expensive trip for many teams due to several crashes throughout the weekend. While balancing the books is an added factor in 2021 with the cost cap, a few midfield teams have cashed in early on development investments
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Driver Ratings
A frantic wet race at Imola produced plenty of excitement and drama as drivers scrabbled for grip. Amid the hatful of mistakes and incidents that ensued, who kept their noses cleanest?
How the Emilia Romagna GP result hinged on three crucial saves
Rain before the start of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix promised to spice up the action, and the race certainly delivered on that. Max Verstappen got the best launch to win from Lewis Hamilton, but both got away with mistakes that could have had serious consequences
The back-bedroom world-beater that began a new F1 era
The first in a line of world beaters was designed in a back bedroom and then constructed in a shed. STUART CODLING recalls the Tyrrell 001
The clues Hamilton’s F1 contract afterthought gives to his future
The Formula 1 world reacted with surprise when it learned Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited new Mercedes deal guarantees his presence on the grid only until the end of 2021. Both parties claimed publicly they were happy with the arrangement but, asks MARK GALLAGHER, is there more to it than that?
How a harshly ejected Red Bull star has been hooked by racing again
Driver-turned-DJ Jaime Alguersuari lost his love for motorsport when he was booted out of Formula 1 just as he was starting to polish his rough edges. Having drifted from category to category then turned his back on racing altogether in 2015, he’s come full circle and is planning a return in karts for fun
Why Mercedes isn't confident it's really ahead of Red Bull at Imola
While Mercedes struck back against Red Bull by topping the times at Imola on Friday ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the overall picture remains incredibly close. Despite having a possible edge this weekend, the reigning Formula 1 world champion squad is not taking anything for granted...
What Mercedes must do to keep its F1 title challenge on track
Mercedes may find itself leading the drivers' and constructors' standings after Lewis Hamilton's victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, but it is well-aware that it came against the odds, with Red Bull clearly ahead on pace. Here's what the Brackley team must do to avoid its crown slipping
