Formula 1’s restrictions on power unit use will make it hard for Mercedes to reduce Ferrari’s straight-line speed advantage, says Lewis Hamilton.
Ferrari had the highest top speed in qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix. As drivers can only use three complete power units per season without penalty, Hamilton said it could be hard for Mercedes to gain on their rivals.“On the engine side of things it’s very hard to make big gains without taking risks,” he said. “Especially with the regulations that we have these days with the amount of engines and turbos. Those steps are harder to come by.
“It’s probably a combination of a couple of things. But closing that gap in the straight speed is not something that you’ll see close up particularly quickly.”
Hamilton doubts Mercedes will be significantly closer to Ferrari in China.
“I don’t know whether we will make many improvements here,” he said. “we’ve not brought particularly any upgrades or anything like that so you’re not going to see a big difference. Coming into this weekend it should be quite similar to the previous weekend
“But conditions are different, temperatures are different here. The track demands something different from the car. I have no idea how we’re going to perform here but hopefully it’s closer.”
Hamilton won in Bahrain after Charles Leclerc suffered a fault on his Ferrari while he was leading. But he says he doesn’t want to have to rely on superior reliability to beat Ferrari.
“Obviously we didn’t expect the performance we had at the first race, we didn’t expect to see what we saw in the second race and so still it’s only the third race – it feels like it’s been a long time already – but it’s difficult to know.
“Ferrari might come here with an upgrade and be even quicker than they were. We’ve got that long straight down the back which might serve them really well here. I’m not really sure.
“I hope that we don’t have to rely on reliability and I hope that we have a much closer race. I think qualifying was OK in the last race but the race was a big, big delta and I hope this weekend it’s closer between us because this is a great track to have a real race so the closer it is the better.”
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Joao (@johnmilk)
11th April 2019, 13:49
Oh ffs sake, this bs again?
Even if it were to be true, this massive difference in performance from the two engines. Mercedes had benefited far more than the others from the regulations. If Ferrari clawed up do the same! It’s the same situation.
Just shut it Mercedes. This is annoying as hell. It’s worse than the paintjob on Alonso’s car for the indy 500
Dean
11th April 2019, 14:35
You don’t think it’s a possibility that Lewis was ASKED a question and answered it? Just saying x
Joao (@johnmilk)
11th April 2019, 14:41
Not about Lewis, intentionally moved away from pointing the finger at him to avoid this kind of comment, clearly failed. See above
Dean
11th April 2019, 14:55
Meh…Just pointing out the obvious. You crack on sweetheart.
Joao (@johnmilk)
11th April 2019, 15:12
I shall. Shame you didn’t like, oh well. How’s your brother Sam doing?
Joao (@johnmilk)
11th April 2019, 14:40
Thank you Martin for your feedback, truly appreciated. I imagine humour isn’t really your thing, I do apologise for my behaviour.
Regarding your suggestion, about feeling free to stop following F1, dully noted, and I never felt constrained to follow it, just pleasure to be honest with you. Besides, if I stopped watching it, and commenting (you know the purpose of the comment section that annoys you so much, have you considered not coming down here to the dungeons? We are terrible people btw) how on earth would we had the pleasure to trigger you and get such wonderful insight? We simply couldn’t.
About answering truthfully, it is not really the truth is it? Maybe it is his truth, the one he was told (see I mentioned Mercedes in my comment? I’m clever that way).
Well, regardless, I will mind my behaviour next time out while free enjoying F1.
Have the best of weekends Martin. Much love my friend, enjoy the race, 7 am, don’t sleep in.
Joao (@johnmilk)
11th April 2019, 18:22
Wait. C’mon there was no need to delete this whole conversation. Someone called me tifosi but I didn’t take it as an insult. Plus the comment to Sam’s brother doesn’t make sense now
Dean
12th April 2019, 18:16
This Sam sounds like a mighty fine fellow. Can’t claim to be his brother unfortunately but it sounds like he has got right up your pipe and that makes me admire this fine chap. Bravo Sam. To keep on topic…I believe Lewis was in an interview and was ASKED about Ferraris “apparent” straight line speed advantage. He answered the question. As you were.
hamiledon
11th April 2019, 14:35
pre-excuse for defeat.
vjanik (@vjanik)
11th April 2019, 14:52
Its really good straight line speed for half the race. Then it drops off to 5 cylinders.
Bleu (@bleu)
11th April 2019, 15:35
At least now you can have updates during the season unlike in the first years of turbo hybrid era which helped Mercedes to keep their advantage for several seasons.
grat
11th April 2019, 18:48
Actually, they’ve been allowed in-season updates since 2015.
The token system did make it worse if you really screwed up your MGU-H recovery the way Ferrari and Honda did, but not impossible.
The tokens were scrapped at the end of 2016, I believe.
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
11th April 2019, 19:03
I suspect the Token System was intended to help Ferrari win the most races for the next few years, and that whoever thought of the idea was unaware the Mercedes power unit was superior to the Ferrari one. Consequently it was Mercedes who benefited from the Token System not Ferrari.
Tim
11th April 2019, 15:51
Just like the previous two races. Bet my house we’ll hear the same mercspeech for at least Baku (omg it has straights) and Barcelona (Ferrari was fastest here in testing, what do you mean we clocked the actual best time?)
Pironi the Provocateur (@pironitheprovocateur)
11th April 2019, 16:00
Is he talking about the gap that the other teams have on Mercedes? Because while Ferrari caught up on power in the last two years, everyone is apparently struggling with their reliability, including Ferrari. Mercedes engine is still superior in its complexity, so what’s the point of these concerns.
Marcel
11th April 2019, 16:21
Like a grid penalty is a problem for any of the top 3 teams…. Look at the finishing positions from the Mercedes, Ferrari or RB drivers last year, after they started at the back (for whatever reason). Top 5 is guaranteed, but due to beter strategy podium is no problem either (like Lewis in Germany, Max in Texas). So just develope the thing and take some penalties at tracks you can overtake on.
Chris Horton
11th April 2019, 17:12
More of Hamilton’s playing up the opposition so he / Mercedes look even better when they’re inevitably quicker again in a few weeks.
Bore off.
Martin
11th April 2019, 18:13
Like they were quicker in Bahrain? Time to get down specsavers mate.
Chris Horton
11th April 2019, 19:29
Martin I said “in a few weeks”
I definitely didn’t mention Bahrain.
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
11th April 2019, 19:31
As I understand it, the Ferrari car is slightly faster than the Mercedes, so Hamilton is wise to suggest they won’t win the Chinese GP. Maybe Vettel will crack under pressure … again, and maybe something inside Leclerc’s car will burst or crack … again, but what if those things don’t happen? If those things don’t happen, as they shouldn’t have in the first place, then you can expect to see a Ferrari 1 – 2 finish, which is what the result at Bahrain should have been.
Kingshark (@kingshark)
11th April 2019, 17:27
Anyone remember the token system from 2014-2016?
Rui Trindade (@trindade)
11th April 2019, 17:44
So funny that i am
To this can be called coherence and consequently a credible posture …. no, it can not, to this is called, what I think in a long time, demagogic and insinuating opinions when circumstances fail to favor us …. .
For God’s sake, limit yourself to driving, yes, you know how to do well, as for the rest …… it’s more of the same, if signs of improvement in the most direct competition, some threat to the hegemony of the reign the regrets and insinuations …. It can not be taken seriously and it’s a pity that so ……..
Guybrush Threepwood
11th April 2019, 17:46
Cry me a river.
Actually, watching live in melbourne I thought that Ferrari looked more planted through the faster corners.
wayne
11th April 2019, 18:38
i wish i was a 5 time f1 world champion that hops the globe, has super famous friends, multimillion contract the most highly paid driver of all time whom some haters love to hate… for no other reason than jealousy or racism, or just plain dislike with no real justification… what a life!
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
11th April 2019, 20:19
You mean as hard as it was for Ferrari to catch up over 4 years?
Boo hoo.
Tony
11th April 2019, 23:30
Ham is desperate to give his championships quality and weight, but he doesn’t fool anyone – all of his championships have been won in the best car, no matter how much he squirms!
Urvaksh (@thedoctor03)
12th April 2019, 2:14
What is this man on about again?? Seriously – he had the best PU by far all these years and the minute he gets overtaken, it’s the fault of the rules??? I mean this guy is so frustrating to listen to. I wish I had a way to block news related to him from my feed.
CHIKANO (@chikano)
12th April 2019, 7:37
@thedoctor03
There is way. Take some time to overcome those anger issues and then you might figure it out
Urvaksh (@thedoctor03)
12th April 2019, 17:58
@chikano cannot help it mate. Your fav driver here has that effect. But then if you’ve got fans who lap up everything you say, you’re bound to say it anyway, even though it’s a truck load of ummm rubbish :)
wayne
12th April 2019, 5:25
dont read then