Breaking news
Formula 1
Ferrari convinced Mercedes advantage smaller now
Ferrari believes it is now closer to Mercedes than it has been all season, despite Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton dominating the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Nov 17, 2015, 9:31 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Although Sebastian Vettel was never able to properly challenge Mercedes at the front at Interlagos, the fact he remained so close to them throughout the race – with no safety car to help – has left Ferrari hugely encouraged about its progress.
Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene said his view was not just wild optimism, and was based on Vettel coming home less than 15 seconds behind.
"It is not an invention if you look at the numbers. It is absolutely like this," Arrivabene said.
"Without a safety car or anything, it was somehow the race where we were closer to them than any other.
"We finished the race only a little behind Mercedes, completing all the laps."
He added: "The pace of the car was not so bad. On certain laps we were near to them, other laps the same time – and on just a few laps even better.
"But unfortunately most of the laps we were a bit far from them, so they constructed an advantage and they deserved a victory.
"Having said so, today's conditions, it is okay. Good is when you win, today was okay."
Arrivabene also reckoned that its form had not been flattered by Mercedes taking it easy to disguise its true potential.
"They were pushing at certain points, very , very hard," he said. "I am quite sure it was a day where they were, apart from the last three or four laps, they were pushing all the time.
"Maybe on other occasions no, but here I am quite sure. Only Mercedes know. But our data, I think that they were pushing."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Mercedes says Hamilton/Rosberg strength reminiscent of Senna/Prost
Next article F1 engine formula "completely broken" - Johansson
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Ferrari
Charles Leclerc blames Mexico GP clash on track layout - Fred Vasseur disagrees
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
10 h
Charles Leclerc blames Mexico GP clash on track layout - Fred Vasseur disagrees
Latest news
Spire Motorsports suspends Carson Hocevar, parking him for NASCAR finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 min
Spire Motorsports suspends Carson Hocevar, parking him for NASCAR finale
Lin Hodenius, James Roe partner for Lone Star Racing’s full-time IMSA GTD campaign for 2027
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 24 min
Lin Hodenius, James Roe partner for Lone Star Racing’s full-time IMSA GTD campaign for 2027
Matt Crafton to make surprise NASCAR Truck return this weekend at Homestead
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
56 min
Matt Crafton to make surprise NASCAR Truck return this weekend at Homestead
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe