Unbeatable Mercedes
The qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix has provided a clear and defined picture of the team to beat: Mercedes, which placed both cars on the front row, gapping the first of the rivals – Isack Hadjar on Red Bull – by 785 thousandths from pole.
In short, only reliability could worry the two W17s, which seem able to easily dictate the pace, even if they were overtaken at the start.
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Leclerc’s remark
“What can I do against Mercedes? Nothing,” Charles Leclerc admitted bluntly in the post-qualifying interviews. The Ferrari Monegasque, who finished fourth, explained: “On Friday they were really very strong and they didn’t have the engine at its maximum like this morning. And I don’t even know if they were at full power in qualifying…”.
Read more McLaren on the third row, Piastri and Norris in unison: “Good position, but P3 was possible”
Leclerc has this doubt because of what was seen in FP3 – where George Russell gapped Lewis Hamilton by six tenths on used tires -: “Maybe they held something back, because this morning was crazy. For the race I don’t know what to expect. But I think they will be on another planet, just under a second a lap faster than everyone else“, underlined a dejected Leclerc.
Read more Now Norris has changed his mind: “These cars suck. The 50-50 engine doesn’t work”
