Ferrari driver’s quiet confidence is ominous going into the Azerbaijan GP and it will only grow if he can win at a Mercedes-friendly track where the red mist came down last yearLast season the Azerbaijan Grand Prix produced a dramatic end to what had been a good-natured rivalry in battle for the championship between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.When Vettel lost his temper and barged the British driver his lack of control exposed a weakness from which Hamilton emerged psychologically with the upper hand. A year on in Baku, however, the German could not be exhibiting a calmer, more controlled disposition and his quiet confidence is ominous for Hamilton. Related: Max Verstappen will need to learn fast from Shanghai overtaking...
The misjudgments that hindered Lewis Hamilton in Melbourne are unlikely to be repeated in a Bahrain race that should tell us more about the credentials of Ferrari and Red BullIn Bahrain this weekend, Mercedes will be confident they have eradicated the problem that cost them an almost certain win at the opening round of the Formula One season in Australia. The debriefs will likely have been uncomfortable, with Lewis Hamilton showing clear frustration after a race he thought was in the bag. But setting aside the number-crunching glitch or Sebastian Vettel making the most of it and the virtual safety car to take the win, there were questions raised at Albert Park to which we may see answers at the...
Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen showed Red Bull can be a force while Fernando Alonso gave McLaren reason to be cheerful Related: Australian Grand Prix: Sebastian Vettel wins F1 opener with Lewis Hamilton second Continue reading...
Mercedes look like being the team to beat again, while Ferrari and McLaren both have much work to doThe dominant force in F1 for the past four years, Mercedes appear to show no sign of relinquishing their stranglehold. Last year’s championship-winning car, which was quick but temperamental, has undergone an evolution over the winter that looks alarming for their rivals. They clocked the most laps with 1,040 and, although only seventh on the time sheets, their pace in race simulations was relentlessly good, half a second a lap up on Ferrari and eight-tenths on Red Bull. The team chose not to run the car on the fastest hyper‑soft rubber, unconcerned about setting a single lap marker, and Lewis Hamilton, who...
The Briton had to be at his best to shake off his Ferrari rival and seal fourth title; Force India and Max Verstappen showed mettle; changes needed in 2018Lewis Hamilton produced an exceptional performance to secure his fourth – and what he admitted was his most challenging and most rewarding – title. With competition from Sebastian Vettel in a Ferrari that was at least on a par with the Mercedes and at certain circuits the better car, the British driver had to be at his best and successfully bring together every facet of his craft. Hamilton had to cope with a demanding car, struggling to find set-up and with the pressure of being behind until the 13th round. Major errors...