With Mercedes clearly out front and Renault clearly at the rear, F1's third engine supplier Ferrari has had a comparatively low-profile winter. Many believe works team Scuderia Ferrari currently rank somewhere between the top Mercedes teams like Mercedes and McLaren and the struggling Renault-powered outfits.
A more precise rumour in the paddock as the final pre-season test began in Bahrain on Thursday put Ferrari's deficit to Mercedes at up to 75 horse power. When that number was put to Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen, the Finn said: "I can't give an honest impression because I have not paid attention to it. I have only seen other cars when I'm passing them or when they're passing me," he is quoted by Speed Week, "but I can't put a number on it."
As for Maranello based Ferrari's overall position with just three test days left until Melbourne, Raikkonen was quoted by Finland's MTV3 broadcaster: "We are not yet where we want to be, but we are not far away." He is quoted by Spain's AS sports newspaper as admitting Ferrari intends to try a race simulation this week in Bahrain.
"Fernando (Alonso) will too, and then we will see where we are but really we are still working on the setup. I have had much worse winters and then the season has gone well, so I'm not worried. Things can change quickly during the season," said Raikkonen.
Mercedes' obvious advantage, however, is evidenced by the smiles in the Williams garage, with some paddock sources believing the new FW36 is currently a more competitive package than the works Ferrari. But Mercedes-powered Williams driver Valtteri Bottas said: "They (Ferrari) also seem strong.
"Their reliability is not too bad, and we will see that Renault will improve. I don't think we should underestimate anybody," Bottas is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace, "but we're hoping to be in the top ten and my feeling, at least for the start of the season, is that cars with Mercedes engines will be in front." (GMM)
I have had much worse winters, says Raikkonen
- Published on 28 Feb 2014 12:45
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
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Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
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Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
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Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
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Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
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Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
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Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
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Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
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Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
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Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
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World Championship standings 2026
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Spain
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Bahrain
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Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Driver profile
- Team Cadillac F1
- Points 1,608
- Podiums 61
- Grand Prix 221
- Country FI
- Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (36)
- Place of b. Nastola, FI
- Weight 70 kg
- Length 1.73 m
- 135,081 comments on Cadillac F1
2 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Valtteri Bottas
Team profile
- Team name Williams
- Base Grove, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
- Jacques Villeneuve 1
- Logan Sargeant 2
- Ayrton Senna 2
- Jacques Villeneuve 3
- Nicholas Latifi 6
- Jacques Villeneuve 6
- Nico Rosberg 7
- Nico Hülkenberg 10
- Nico Rosberg 10
- Jenson Button 10
- Pastor Maldonado 12
- Pastor Maldonado 16
- Nico Rosberg 16
- Nico Rosberg 16
- Valtteri Bottas 17
- Lance Stroll 18
- Pastor Maldonado 18
- Felipe Massa 19
- Alexander Albon 23
- Sergey Sirotkin 35
- Nyck de Vries 45
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- George Russell 63
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- Robert Kubica 88
- 161,846 comments on Williams
- 39 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Williams
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