According to the Mercedes driver, Ferrari was the best prepared for the 2019 tests of all teams.
Ferrari drivers are regularly at the top of the protocol in tests that began this week in Barcelona. Sebastian Vettel showed the best time on Monday and Charles Leclair on Tuesday.
It is not worth making premature conclusions about the speed, because there is no exact information about the mode in which the Scuderia uses the power unit, and about how much fuel the rider has on board during one or another attempt. Mercedes, for its part, didn't focus on speed in the first three days, and it wasn't until Thursday that Lewis Hamilton seriously added to his time.
However, Hamilton admitted on Wednesday that Ferrari's cars are "very fast." His Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas went even further and suggested that Ferrari is better prepared for the 2019 season.
“They really look very strong,” Bottas admitted. - No matter how much fuel they have and how the engine is used.
We are trying to correct the current situation. But they are very fast - both short and long.
The impression is created that at the moment they are a little ahead. But, of course, it is impossible to make a detailed calculation”.
Bottas emphasized that Mercedes' test results do not matter to the team, because "we have our own benchmarks, and this is not a protocol."
He added: “Of course we are looking at the table. But we really want to focus on the limited testing time we have. We want to focus on our car.
I am sure that in the pause between the test series, the teams will better analyze the balance of power. This will go a long way when we arrive in Melbourne. It all depends on how efficiently we work on the tests.
As I said, Ferrari looks strong. There is no doubt about that."
Bottas hopes Ferrari's strong start prompts the addition of Mercedes, whose car is not yet fully optimized.
Valtteri said: “I feel like everyone on the team wants to learn more about the car and improve it.
Now we cannot say that we are far ahead of everyone. Ferrari is in the best position. And that motivates us well."
Valtteri Bottas believes that before the first stage of the season, the situation will change when the teams modify the cars. At the same time, according to him, it cannot be argued that this will certainly help to bypass Ferrari.
“The new rules launched an arms race. We do not think that someone will bring exactly the same car to the first stage as to these tests. We ourselves are no exception.
But we cannot rely only on this, on the fact that there will be renewal in us. We really need to make the car better and faster.”
