Hamilton: Mercedes "definitely underestimated" Ferrari's pace
Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes “definitely underestimated” the pace of Formula 1 rival Ferrari after Charles Leclerc took pole for the Austrian Grand Prix.
Leclerc set two laptimes good enough for pole as Hamilton improved on his final run to jump from fourth to second, 0.259s off the pace.
Though the long straights at the Red Bull Ring were expected to bring Ferrari back into the fight after a disappointing French Grand Prix, Hamilton admitted Leclerc’s speed through the rest of the lap was also a surprise.
“We’ve been chipping away at it but from the get-go we noticed a bit of a deficit to the Ferraris,” said Hamilton. “We thought it would be a bit closer than it was.
“They eked out some more time in FP3 and then in qualifying. We definitely underestimated how fast they would be, I would say.
“On the straights they really kill us, they’ve got that extra bit of power that works really well here.
“I guess they’ve managed to figure out how to get the car to work around the medium- and high-speed corners.”
Hamilton qualified on the medium tyres in Q2 whereas Leclerc opted for softs, but was then penalised three places on the grid for impeding Kimi Raikkonen and will start fourth instead of second.
“If we get to start the race with those guys it will be quite a fun race,” said Hamilton. “This is a track you can follow a bit more but it will still be tough at the top between us.
“I think the Ferraris are very quick on their long runs, it will not be easy to keep up with Charles but I’ll give it everything I have. If I can stay in the tow, for example, and be there on a different tyre.
“Them starting on that tyre, I would tend to think that means they’re going for a two-stop, most likely. Unless the tyre goes a lot further than we anticipate.
“I don’t have their numbers but the medium tyre I think will go a bit longer. A one- and two-stop is pretty close, so how you work them will be interesting.”
Previous article
Leclerc says new set-up approach has made car stronger
Next article
Russell penalised after "ruining" Kvyat's qualifying
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Event | Austrian GP |
| Drivers | Lewis Hamilton |
| Teams | Mercedes |
| Author | Scott Mitchell |
Sebastian Vettel explains why Aston Martin
Aston Martin AMR21 Unveiling
The updates Williams hopes will lead to a point-scoring return
After producing a car which demonstrated progress but lacked the points to prove it last year, Williams starts its new era of team ownership with the FW43B, its bid to continue the climb up the Formula 1 grid in 2021
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end
