Sebastian Vettel claims Mercedes are "quick with ease" following F1 testing
F1 News
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel says Mercedes are most likely to be the quickest car when F1 reaches Melbourne for the season opening Australian Grand Prix in just under two weeks' time. Valtteri Bottas set the quickest time of anyone at pre season testing as the Silver Arrows look to continue their domination, having taken control of F1 in 2014.
Vettel and Ferrari have often been the ones to challenge the German team more than any other, but they have not been able to trouble Hamilton's charge in the last three years, and Vettel thinks that Mercedes will have it their own way again, at least the the start of the season.
According to motorsport.com, the four-time F1 champion said: "It just looks as if Mercedes is more at ease. Not just for the one lap, which is what people look at, but just in general, also the [long] runs.
"I think we also had some runs that were better, some runs that were worse. It's a bit hard to tell, with the time of day, track conditions, then I don't know what people are doing in the background.
"Obviously we tested some stuff that was very good, other stuff that wasn't good, so it also has an impact on laptimes. Probably if you look right now, Mercedes is at the top. Every time they go out, they are fairly quick with ease, whereas others I think need to stretch a bit more."