Lewis Hamilton says the small differences in times between the leading cars in practice for the Belgian Grand Prix shows the teams are getting closer together as the season progresses.
Mercedes have taken pole position for every race this year by more than half a second over their closest rival. Hamilton ended second practice in third place, less than a tenth of a second behind Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and Daniel Ricciardo’s Renault.“It’s very close out there,” said Hamilton. “I think the Red Bulls are just a little bit quicker at the moment, but even Racing Point I think is right with us and then also Daniel Ricciardo and the Renault is very close.
“So that makes it exciting. We’ve got some work to do, that’s for sure, to try and dial in the car before. But it doesn’t feel bad at all.”
Following Mercedes’ dominant start to 2020, Hamilton said he expected to see the field get closer as the season went on.
“From race to race it’s just different,” he said. “Some places we’re ahead, some places we’re behind.
“As I anticipated coming into this weekend, we’re only into the seventh race, the field’s going to get closer and closer as we continue to develop and the whole of Formula 1 develops.
“It’s already showing that this weekend. We seem to be so close with everyone and we’ve got to understand why. Whether they’ve taken a step or we’ve taken a step back or it’s just the track layout or downforce level, who knows.
“So we’ll work on that but I’m excited for an interesting race, that’s for sure.”
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Neel Jani (@neelv27)
28th August 2020, 16:46
Oh, no Toto-talks please!
Adam (@rocketpanda)
28th August 2020, 16:46
Oh man I do hope the grid is closing up, that’d be great! But let’s wait until after qualifying before proclaiming it a ‘tighter field’. Mercedes still have to be 100% favourite to get a dominant pole and race win, so… we’ll see.
HAL
28th August 2020, 17:38
No doubt Mercedes will be ahead, and probably by a big margin (esp. here at Spa)… But the rest of the field is amazingly close, which means that every GP delivers a new hierarchy. Let’s see what tomorrow brings for Renault, Racing Point, McLaren etc…
Balue (@balue)
28th August 2020, 16:58
Half a second in qualifying. At least.
proud_asturian
28th August 2020, 17:09
1 Second more like
And still they will spread the “we will be lucky to win tomorrow” lie
frood19 (@frood19)
28th August 2020, 17:15
It does start to ring hollow after so many titles, let alone poles and wins. Still, the field is remarkably close for such a long lap. I wonder if it is because so much of the lap is easy flat nowadays.
MacLeod (@macleod)
28th August 2020, 23:22
Expect wet qualiflier so no 1 second. Around 14.00 lots of light rain rnding with moderate. Sunday some light rain only.
MacLeod (@macleod)
29th August 2020, 8:29
After 14.00 light rain and the session ends with moderate raining just checked the predictions just 5 minutes ago.
AliceD (@aliced)
28th August 2020, 17:47
More Mercedes propaganda I don’t believe a word of it.
Ipson
28th August 2020, 19:28
I’ve got ricciardo for the win, how about you guys?
Neil (@neilosjames)
28th August 2020, 19:41
Can remember a few weeks ago, Helmut Marko was reported as saying that Red Bull deliberately sandbagged a lot in races when they were dominant, to make it appear closer so no one tried to slow them down more.
Maybe Mercedes are giving it a go.
NS Biker (@rekibsn)
28th August 2020, 20:33
All they have to do is bring back the Lederhosen.
Ipsom
28th August 2020, 20:47
I was having a very similar thought lately… that maybe later in the season Mercedes are going to tone down the cars a bit, just enough to win comfortably but not decimate the field @neilosjames
Ipsom
28th August 2020, 20:44
I’ve got ricciardo winning, how about you guys?
erikje
28th August 2020, 20:53
Ricci is possible.. but in a Renault? No way..
Homerlovesbeer (@homerlovesbeer)
29th August 2020, 2:27
Ric and the car are capable but not the muppet Renault strategists.
Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
28th August 2020, 23:53
Hahahahahahahahahaha.
Hahahahahahahahahaha.
**Catches breath**
Hahahahahahahahahaha.
Phew…hahaha…*cough cough*…hahaha.
MattyF1
29th August 2020, 0:06
I do not know why news outlets put out these stories.
We all know Hamilton is speaking utter tosh.