Vettel thinks Mercedes were holding back on pace

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

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

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 - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 1,608
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 209
  • Country FI
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (36)
  • Place of b. Nastola, FI
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar