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.
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.
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."
Previous article
Promoted: How the French GP works an F1 car
Next article
F1 to offer superlicense points for Friday practice outings
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Lewis Hamilton |
| Teams | Mercedes |
| Author | Scott Mitchell |
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end
The mantra Ocon must follow to challenge Alonso at Alpine
OPINION: It's been an uneasy ride for Esteban Ocon since his F1 comeback - and fresh challenges lie in wait as he's joined by double world champion Fernando Alonso in the newly rebranded Alpine team. STUART CODLING sets out a roadmap to success…
Why Haas is willing to sacrifice its 2021 F1 season
Every Formula 1 team is facing the same difficult decision this season: how do you split precious aero development time between the current car and the all-new 2022 project?
The big questions of F1 2021 - Karun Chandhok
After an unprecedented season last year, there are plenty of questions and storylines for the upcoming Formula 1 campaign. Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok gives his verdict.
How McLaren F1’s new investors have already made an impact
The deal McLaren concluded with MSP Sports Capital last year which will help the cash-strapped Formula 1 team pay for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, also points toward the future for F1 itself, says GP Racing's Stuart Codling.
Why Verstappen isn't interested in the hype game
In a pre-season where Red Bull has been unusually quiet, Max Verstappen has also been guarded about the team's fortunes in 2021. Even after trying the RB16B for the first time at Silverstone, the Dutchman was careful to manage expectations
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
