Hamilton tops both Friday practice sessions in revised W08; Ferrari third and fourth as Vettel bemoans long run "shocker"
Saturday 13 May 2017 08:44, UK
Lewis Hamilton believes Mercedes' big Spanish GP upgrade has shown the team is rising to the challenge laid down by Ferrari, after the world champions set the pace ahead of their rivals in Friday practice.
Although most teams were expected to bring significant upgrade packages to Barcelona, Mercedes still caused a surprise by revealing several radical differences to the front of the W08.
Hamilton, off the pace at the last race in Russia, pipped team-mate Valtteri Bottas to the quickest times in both sessions, with Ferrari trailing in Practice Two by three tenths of a second.
"It's only day one, so time will tell, but definitely I know the guys back at the factory have risen to the challenge in terms of bringing the upgrade here," Hamilton told Sky Sports News HQ.
"Really developing the car, making it move forward to try and win this championship. And me and Valtteri have done good jobs so far in our laps."
By contrast, Sebastian Vettel felt his Friday long runs had been a "shocker" as windy conditions hit the Circuit de Catalunya.
In addition to being behind the two Mercedes, Vettel was also outpaced by Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen but the championship leader remained positive it would all come together for him on race day.
The story of Practice Two at Barcelona
"I didn't get everything together, I wasn't too happy but I can feel the car is quick so that is good. I'm not worried, I'm just not happy with how the day went," Vettel said.
"I wasn't always feeling like I was captain onboard. Sometimes somebody else was steering my ship and I hope tomorrow, whoever that was, will disappear.
"Today was quite a shocker if you look at the long runs. I had a very short glimpse and everybody was struggling with the conditions. I was on the medium, it was quite slippery - very interesting.
"By Sunday, things calm down and the track picks up and it should be OK."
What's new on the cars at the Spanish GP?
Hamilton admitted he had enjoyed the challenge of driving in the changeable conditions, but acknowledged they made a lap more unpredictable - with 'gusts of wind' having the potential to prove decisive.
"Literally you are going from corner to corner the car feeling different. You enter, the car feels good, and you get a crosswind, a tailwind or a headwind, and it does make a difference. It's like juggling balls in the wind and not knowing where they are going to fall," he said.
Red Bull have brought a number of updates to their RB13 and while they appear to have closed the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari, Max Verstappen insisted they remain third in the pecking order.
"It was positive. I think we are closer to the Ferrari," he told Sky F1.
"Mercedes look like they brought a very good update package as well. I think we are still the third team but it was alright.
"I feel happier than I did this morning but we still need to work very hard to get more pace in the car and also the engine."
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