Sebastian-Vettel-vs-Lewis-Hamilton-2017
No You’re The Favourite… No You’re The Favourite… No… You’re The Favourite…
Formula One
Formula One heads to Australia this weekend to begin the 2017 season and what we can gleam from pre-season testing is that Ferrari were the fastest team. To repeat Ferrari were the fastest team in testing. As they were this time last year. It wasn’t until race day at last years race that the true picture emerged. Ferrari were not as fast as the testing data had led them and everyone else to believe. Ferrari’s main problem for the last five years has been the inability to generate enough low to mid-speed mechanical grip. Ferrari haven’t been able to generate enough heat into the the tyres which has restricted the cars out right performance. This is usually as a result of poorly optimised aerodynamics and while the Ferrari power unit is one of the most powerful on the grid the team has been unable to extract that performance fully. So have we been unintentionally deceived yet again by Ferrari’s testing performance? It is true they will be fast this year but will they be faster than Mercedes? If we go by testing data alone then yes Ferrari will be the fastest car on the grid, but testing data takes into account many performance parameters and speed isn’t the primary focus. When to comes to a grand prix proper when it really matters only then will a true picture emerge. The safest bet is to assume Mercedes will continue to dominate even taking into account the new regulations. Ferrari may be one of the teams who have reduced the gap to Mercedes but by how much is not an exact science and we will only fully know on Sunday. But the gap will not have been reduced significantly because Mercedes were not pushed by any team last year, that’s how far ahead they were in terms of their car’s performance. So Mercedes still has the clear engine performance advantage and we don’t see any reason why they will have developed a undriveable chassis. But why do we assume this? Because if the Mercedes performed poorly in the handling department Hamilton would have said so in the loudest terms possible because he is not one to hide his dissatisfaction. At the drivers press briefing in Melbourne Hamilton said “I see Ferrari being quickest, they are definitely favourites.” Vettel countered “Mercedes have been very strong and even if you change the rules if a team is strong they will build a strong car”. However Hamilton is looking forward to some fierce on track battles “I have not had a lot of battles with Sebastian on track, and I would love that and the fans would too. And for Fernando to be up there, too, before his time is up. I would love that. We haven’t seen the best of Fernando.”  Sebastian-Vettel-vs-Lewis-Hamilton-2017
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