Lewis Hamilton took satisfaction from splitting the two Ferrari’s to claim second in qualifying for the Russian Grand Prix.
Mercedes has been struggling to match the Italian team all weekend in Sochi, but the world champion pulled it out at the end of Q3 to just secure a front row start alongside pole-sitter Charles Leclerc.
“It was a tough qualifying session. These guys [Ferrari] have some crazy speeds on the straights,” Hamilton said to former teammate Jenson Button on the grid.
“They’ve got to another level, that old party mode that was talked about us having, they have something else beyond that… jet mode.
“I gave it absolutely everything I had at the end and the team did such a great job. I’m so glad it all came together. I wasn’t expecting to get on the front row, that’s for sure, so I’m really happy with it.”
Ferrari’s dominance on the straights hasn’t gone unnoticed by Red Bull either, who are taking pleasure in Mercedes facing the same helpless feeling they’ve had throughout the hybrid era.
“I think Mercedes’ party [mode] is more of like an afternoon tea now compared to what Ferrari have up their sleeves,” he told Sky Sports.
“Of course you cannot write them off as look at what they have done but Ferrari are definitely the benchmark at the moment.”
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The Brackley-based team is having to trying every trick in a bid to keep the Scuderia honest, including the decision to start Sunday’s race on the medium compound tyre.
“We know they are on a slightly lower drag level this weekend, plus they have that power, so we’ve got to try something,” Hamilton said.
“You’ve seen the last couple of races, we’ve been behind all the way so we were fortunate enough to alter our strategy.
“It’s a long way down to Turn 2 so it’s not always the best for starts on the harder tyre, but I’m going to try and tow the life out of Charles if I get the chance, but it’s going to be hard.”