Vettel thinks Mercedes were holding back on pace

  • Published on 28 Apr 2017 17:28
  • comments 1
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Sebastian Vettel feels that Mercedes didn't show their true hand during Friday practice, and expects them to be much stronger come qualifying tomorrow. Mercedes were a long way off the pace of Ferrari in the second practice session, with Valtteri Bottas' time almost seven-tenths of a second slower than Vettel in P1.

There have been suggestions that Mercedes aren't quite able to tune the softest compounds into an optimum working range, which was the reason why they looked so far behind on Friday. 

However, Vettel says he thinks they will come roaring to life tomorrow on a track that he believes suits the Brackley based team with its long straights.

"I think they will be fine; it's a circuit that suits them, so they will be strong tomorrow," he said. "Last year people expected Williams to be fastest after the Friday, if I remember right. It obviously turned out that Mercedes was the fastest. That's how sometimes you can be misled.

"I think there are a lot of things that we can play with in the car - fuel loads, engines, engine modes. This track, especially, there are a lot of things that you can show or not show. I think the most important step is we talk about ourselves, our balance, and as I said I was able to improve, so I'm reasonably happy."

 

Fergal Walsh

 

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • menios

    Posts: 12

    i personaly think merc dont want to push hard at fp so they have an advantage on qualy and also to use the ''boost'' button !!

    • + 0
    • Apr 28 2017 - 20:39

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Sauber
  • Points 1,608
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 189
  • Country FI
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (34)
  • Place of b. Nastola, FI
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar