Racing Point’s so-called ‘Pink Mercedes’ has even got Ferrari concerned ahead of the new Formula 1 season.
The RP20 is, without doubt, the most controversial car on the grid in 2020 because of its remarkable similarity to last year’s championship-winning W10.
In testing, it has featured near the top of the timesheet every day and Ferrari, who have continually been downbeat about their own car, insist there’s no sudden burst of pace coming in Australia.
“Honestly I don’t think so,” team boss Mattia Binotto told Sky Sports. “We know what we are doing and we know if we’ve got margin or not.
“If you look at the race simulation pace, it’s true that today Hamilton had an issue but if you have a look at the initial stint the speed he’s got is quite impressive.”
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And though Ferrari expects to be third-fastest in Melbourne, they admit the Racing Point could keep them on their toes initially.
“They are certainly very close,” Binotto commented. “I think it’s not surprising if you look at the shape of the car.
“Certainly they are a threat but I am convinced as well that Ferrari as a team is strong enough to develop the car from now onward and to make sure that in the future we will be strong enough not to be threatened.”
Racing Point also continues to discombobulate their midfield rivals, with McLaren’s Lando Norris claiming they have completely changed the dynamic behind the top three teams.
“I don’t know what the midfield is anymore because there’s one pink car which is very fast,” he said via Crash.net.
“It’s difficult to know. The order will be shaken up and changed around a bit. I’m hoping it will be not as spread out between the top teams and us. I’m hoping it’s all a bit more bunched up.
“I don’t want to comment too much but it [the Racing Point] looks like a Mercedes for sure,” Norris added, stating the obvious.
“I don’t know what the idea and process is behind it and how everything has worked out so no point me saying anything which is incorrect, but they seem to have done a very good job, with whatever they have done.
“They are fast and I think they have set the pace for the midfield teams last year for just this pre-season testing, but it doesn’t mean we will go to Australia and they are going to be amazing.
“We have work to do to try and catch up to them up a bit, but Australia is a very different story.”