Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will be one to watch this season. The second session was similar: Hamilton was quickest again this time, half a second up on Vettel.
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Hamilton was on top, fastest in free practice, one ahead of his team-mate and six-tenths clear of the two Red Bulls and just over a second ahead of the two Ferraris, albeit with times set on softer rubber. The early signs, however, before the real test of qualifying, had a remarkably familiar air. But the car is patently a decent, reliable ride with a decent set of horses under the bonnet, strong on all types of tyres, stable with good turn-in and excellent balance. There Ferrari were quickest, but drawing conclusions from testing is a dangerous game and Red Bull have been careful not to exaggerate any importance from it – the false dawn of last year’s pre-season runs left some lasting scars.
Indeed Verstappen was probably spot-on to suggest they had been sandbagging to an extent in Barcelona. They were rock solid on reliability in testing and their power unit – all-conquering to deliver three drivers’ and three constructors’ championships in the past three years – is a proven quantity. In truth Hamilton, his new team-mate Valtteri Bottas and Mercedes probably do hold the whip. “Personally, I don’t think we can fight for the win at the moment,” he said last week, adding: “Ferrari made quite a step forward from last year,” and “Mercedes will always be right there – I think they probably sandbagged a bit.” No one, it seems, wanted to declare their hand the strongest. To which, of course, must be added the third player in this triptych at the front end of the grid: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, never usually one to avoid getting involved in a good scrap when it’s offered up. “I think they will definitely be the favourites.” “I see Ferrari being the quickest at the moment,” he countered. “I think it’s very clear who is the favourite.” Sitting next to him, Hamilton was having none of it. “Mercedes obviously have been in very strong form the last three years,” said the German. On Thursday Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel thrust the mantle of being the team to beat on to each other’s shoulders.
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