Breaking news
Formula 1
Hamilton: Ferrari has power mode Mercedes doesn't have
Ferrari's Formula 1 engine has a power mode that Mercedes cannot match at the moment, reckons championship leader Lewis Hamilton.
Scott Mitchell
Published: Jun 14, 2019, 1:53 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Mercedes has won all seven races so far this season and Hamilton has taken five of those victories, with the most recent coming in controversial circumstances last weekend in Canada.
Read Also:
Sebastian Vettel's lost victory in Montreal left the lead Ferrari driver 62 points adrift of Hamilton, who is adamant Mercedes has a clear engine deficit to overcome.
"They were so quick on the straights," he said. "They definitely have another power mode that we currently don't have.
"So, all of a sudden they turn up the power and he pulls away massively on the straight, even if I have DRS open."
Hamilton said his statement is "not an assumption" because the evidence was there in qualifying in Canada, where Mercedes felt it was losing as much as six tenths on the straights.
Vettel was told to go to 'Engine Mode 1' when he was chasing more performance during the Canadian GP.
"In the race I know all of a sudden they pick up a lot of pace on the straights [as well] but that's the name of the game," added Hamilton. "They've clearly done a great job with their power unit.
"There used to be a point where Mercedes was ahead in that area by a good chunk. We've got work to do there. They are ahead of us at the moment there."
Ferrari's straightline performance is also boosted by its aerodynamic concept, having chased more efficient performance compared to Mercedes' greater peak downforce.
Hamilton said he was pleased that he had not "left anything on the table" after pressuring Vettel into the error that ultimately cost the German driver the win, because of the five-second penalty he picked up when rejoining unsafely.
"I like to think that I conducted myself in the right manner, and the guys worked so hard collectively and we came out with a good result," said Hamilton.
"We've got work to do. We've seen how quick the Ferraris were [in Canada], they were right there in the last race [Monaco] as well, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
"They're quicker than us on the straights, they have another level of engine mode that they can go to, particularly in qualifying and also in the race. So we've definitely got work to do, but at least we've got a good fight."
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 Promoted: How the French GP works an F1 car
Next article F1 to offer superlicense points for Friday practice outings
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Lewis Hamilton
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
More from
Mercedes
Christian Horner admits that F1 rivalry with Toto Wolff became "theatre"
Formula 1
Formula 1 14 h
Christian Horner admits that F1 rivalry with Toto Wolff became "theatre"
‘I’ll put a pillow under his butt’ – How Toto Wolff wants to solve Kimi Antonelli’s track limits problem
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
‘I’ll put a pillow under his butt’ – How Toto Wolff wants to solve Kimi Antonelli’s track limits problem
Latest news
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
6 h
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Did Haas make the correct decision in signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
8 h
Did Haas make the correct decision in signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027?
Frederik Vesti steps up to full-time role as Cadillac Racing details 2027 IMSA lineup
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 8 h
Frederik Vesti steps up to full-time role as Cadillac Racing details 2027 IMSA lineup
Rafael Camara to replace Esteban Ocon at Haas for F1 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
8 h
Rafael Camara to replace Esteban Ocon at Haas for F1 2027
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