Ferrari and Red Bull continue to talk up the threat posed by Mercedes despite their apparent troubles at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton has ruled out fighting for victories for the foreseeable future due to porpoising issues on the straights, stating there was no sign of a short-term fix on Friday.
But while the seven-time world champion was P9 and 1.2s off the pace set by Max Verstappen in second practice on Friday evening, teammate George Russell was only half a second behind in fourth for the Brackley-based team.
Also notable was the Briton matched the pace of both the Dutchman and second-placed Charles Leclerc in the more technical middle sector, with almost all the deficit coming on the straights where Mercedes was near the bottom of the top speed traps.
“No, not yet,” Verstappen said when asked if he was surprised by Mercedes’ apparent deficit. “We will have to wait and see tomorrow when everyone is turning their engines up really how much is in there.”
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto was remaining equally vigilant of the Silver Arrows.
“I’m sure about that,” he told Sky Italia on if Mercedes will challenge at the front. “I believe Red Bull today did not push at the maximum, like us and Mercedes.
“It’s right to preserve the engine on Friday. It’s a reliability matter, the season is long and the engine must be managed for more races. So today we pushed, but not at the maximum.”
On Ferrari’s pace, the Swiss team boss was enthused by the performance of the upgraded power unit and ruled nothing out as a goal in Bahrain.
“For sure it made a step forward compared to last year,” he said. “We have to wait for qualifying tomorrow when everyone will push at the limit.
“So today’s indications are not a final result yet but it’s a good sign, then in qualifying we will all unleash full power and we will see where we will be.
“The testing showed we could be fast, as well as they showed Red Bull were fast too, maybe even more than us.
“They also showed Mercedes were very close and I believe these first sessions confirmed this trend.
“We always have to aim for the top, victory included,” Binotto added. “Then I believe we have to stay with our foot on the ground because the competition is very strong.
“It will be so for all the season and this weekend too. From the drivers’ side, it’s right to be excited, to believe we can win, but we don’t have to commit the sin of too much desire to do and get disillusioned.”