Lewis Hamilton believes it’s going to be hard for Mercedes to convert their one-two result in qualifying into a similar result in the race.
Mercedes have started the last two races from pole position but have not gone on to win as they’ve struggled with tyre degradation.
“Limiting the degradation is going to be my major challenge as the general pace isn’t too bad,” said Hamilton. “It’s going to be tough to keep these positions tomorrow but we’ll give it our best shot.”
“I’ve not been totally happy with the balance of my car all weekend, even today, so we need to look at it this evening and see what we can do for the race,” he added.
Nico Rosberg starts from pole position as he did in Bahrain, where he slipped to ninth place by the end. “We know that this is only half of the job completed and have the painful memory of what happened in Bahrain to prove that,” he said.
“We’ve worked very hard on our race pace but this track is tough for the tyres, particularly with graining.”
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JCost (@jcost)
11th May 2013, 16:24
Let’s see if they manage a good start. If they survive the start, I fear they will not be able to stay in front once DRS is enabled.
ninefiveasn (@ninefiveasn)
11th May 2013, 16:27
Seeing as they were very quick in Sector 3 however, they might be able to ensure they are too far ahead on the main straight to be hauled in.
hunocsi (@hunocsi)
11th May 2013, 16:37
But there’s another DRS zone…
ninefiveasn (@ninefiveasn)
11th May 2013, 16:51
True, the run from turn 9 into 10 is not really a normal overtaking spot but maybe DRS could make it a lot easier.
sdtaylor91 (@sdtaylor91)
11th May 2013, 16:51
yeah but the corner before the 2nd DRS zone is high speed and there’s only line through that corner, unless you’re much quicker than the car in front i’d be surprised if you can pass there.
It’s still gonna be hard to pass in the race unless you’re quite a bit quicker, 2011 spanish GP, Hamilton just couldn’t get past Vettel, even though he was quite a bit quicker
sdtaylor91 (@sdtaylor91)
11th May 2013, 16:53
yeah but the corner before the 2nd DRS zone is high speed and there’s only one line through that corner, unless you’re much quicker than the car in front i’d be surprised if you can pass there.
It’s still gonna be hard to pass in the race unless you’re quite a bit quicker, 2011 spanish GP, Hamilton just couldn’t get past Vettel, even though he was quite a bit quicker
Sri Harsha (@harsha)
11th May 2013, 16:55
I think when Tire degradation comes into play then the 1st DRS zone of Back straight will come to play. It will also help the faster cars to overtake the Slower cars after Pit stops.
dkpioe
11th May 2013, 17:26
I think it might be hard to pass the mercedes during the race, even with drs and mercedes tyre degradation, but redbull and renault will get ahead at the pitstops. mercedes would be smart to ask hamilton to block the other drivers for 10 laps while rosberg builds a lead, but it seems the teams priority is hamilton, so this wont happen – but realistically if they want a win they should do this, i think they might try this if hamilton is ahead at turn 1 and then will turn down rosbergs engine.
Ed Marques (@edmarques)
11th May 2013, 16:31
A podium would be great for them. I don’t believe in a race win yet, unless their drivers are really good liars.
tmax (@tmax)
11th May 2013, 16:49
Hope the Barcelona Pole to Victory Record Work in their favor this year :)
Master firelee (@master-firelee)
11th May 2013, 16:52
I think if they get to the first corner 1 & 2 the driver behind should hold up the rest of the field the best that they can and let his team mate stretch out a gap.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
11th May 2013, 17:02
I can’t see either of them even on the podium: they have three very fast drivers directly behind them on the grid, and I think provided everything runs smoothly for them they will be taking each step on the podium.
JCost (@jcost)
11th May 2013, 19:21
Hamilton has been there twice. I think a win is hard to land, but a podium (hoping the pace has improved) is possible, still hard to achieve but possible.
matt90 (@matt90)
11th May 2013, 20:23
He’s been very fortunate though. Tyre wear in China was so bad for everybody that it flattered the Mercs, and Vettel’s strategy didn’t quite work out. In Malaysia all the closest likely competitors were in trouble or randomly struggling.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
11th May 2013, 22:19
@jcost of course, but as I alluded to I think Räikkönen, Vettel or Alonso will have to encounter problems for that to occur. It’s definitely not completely out of the question but I just don’t see it happening, judging from previous form and Friday practice.
Sounak Chakrabarty (@sonkky)
11th May 2013, 17:16
In the Pre-Season Predictions to How many races will lewis Hamilton win??
I answered 1 @ Monaco.. I think that will happen as Monaco will not produce extreme tyre deg.. On the current form He is now favourite for Pole there as well..
dkpioe
11th May 2013, 17:33
on the current form Rosberg has 2 poles to Lewis’ 1, and the last 2, so Rosberg is favourite. either way Mercedes look good over 1 lap. Monaco is what, a 78 or so lap race? i doubt Merc can keep the lead for that long going by everything that has happened this year.
matt90 (@matt90)
11th May 2013, 20:25
I think at the last race Hamilton was more set-up for the race. We’ll see tomorrow if that’s the case again or if Rosberg was there on merit.
hunocsi (@hunocsi)
11th May 2013, 21:17
They should stand a chance as Nico could hold onto his 2nd place all race last year, so I agree with @sonkky, the most likely place to win is Monaco for him.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
11th May 2013, 17:42
Ah I had a funny answer in that for the biggest political story of the year…
dkpioe
12th May 2013, 4:30
the other thing is hsmilton has not been great at monaco historically and not great in qualifying. hungary is a better bet
Kibblesworth (@kibblesworth)
11th May 2013, 17:28
I know Mercedes is being realistic and are doing their best to play down expectations but there’s no reason to be pessimistic. I believe that both drivers have a realistic chance at podiums and maybe even the win. If Maldonado can win from pole I have no doubt that either of the Mercedes can.
N
11th May 2013, 17:43
Williams didnt chew on its tyres like Ferguson with a pack of wrigleys
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
11th May 2013, 18:07
Yes.
MJ4
11th May 2013, 17:55
With only the one-lap wonders ahead of him, this race is Vettel’s to lose.
sonia luff (@sonia54)
11th May 2013, 20:14
+1
Jarv F150 (@jarvf150)
11th May 2013, 20:42
With a massive lack of top speed he will need to get them before the DRS opens or he is going to get mugged by half the pack.
72defender (@72defender)
11th May 2013, 20:53
+1