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Mercedes bracing for Ferrari battle in Bahrain

Mercedes bracing for Ferrari battle in Bahrain

  • Published on 18 Apr 2015 10:26
  • comments 1
  • By: Johan van den Beld
Mercedes is bracing for another Malaysia-style battle with Ferrari this weekend in Bahrain. After losing to Sebastian Vettel in the Sepang sun, Mercedes hit back in cooler China last weekend with a one-two victory. But Ferrari began its Bahrain race weekend in the best possible way, as the red cars set the fastest times.

Mercedes then appeared to hit back in the second Friday session. But team boss Toto Wolff warned: "The Ferrari looked the quickest car out there. Very stable quick tyres ... lap times. That was a Freudian (slip)," he grinned. "Tyres! We just need to get our act together and analyse it."

Tyres, indeed, is the keyword, as Ferrari is managing them better than Mercedes on the so-called 'long runs', while the silver cars continue to dominate over a single lap. Both Mercedes drivers agreed on Friday that their Italian rivals appear "dangerous" in Bahrain. Many paddock dwellers are expecting a Lewis Hamilton versus Vettel title battle to develop throughout the season.

In Bahrain, for instance, the German broadcaster RTL arranged a rare double interview involving the two protagonists -- notably excluding Hamilton's German teammate Nico Rosberg. F1 supremo Ecclestone even stopped by just before the cameras rolled to chat to the two biggest stars of the 2015 season: "He (Rosberg) is the same calibre as Lewis," the 84-year-old said. "But Lewis looks in good form."

Vettel, however, will be hoping an FIA investigation into an incident on Friday does not dent his Bahrain hopes. The quadruple world champion collided with Sergio Perez in practice, but it was Ferrari's radio warning of a "brake problem" that reportedly raised eyebrows among the stewards. It is believed the FIA suspects it was merely a codeword to warn Vettel about a loose wheel, which could result in a grid penalty. (GMM)
F1 News Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Sebastian Vettel Sergio Perez Ferrari Mercedes

Replies (1)

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  • mclarenfan1968

    Posts: 1,027

    Hopefully it is but TBH haven't seen any real evidence for this.

    • + 0
    • Apr 18 2015 - 11:19

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McLaren
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Red Bull Racing
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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United Arab Emirates
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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GB Lewis Hamilton 44
Lewis Hamilton
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  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (39)
  • Place of b. Tewin, GB
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
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