Hamilton: Mercedes has to over-deliver to defeat Ferrari
- Published on 14 Aug 2018 12:06
-
- By: Fergal Walsh
Lewis Hamilton believes that Mercedes is having to over-deliver on race weekends in order to beat Ferrari. The two major manufacturers are involved in a close tussle this season, which is seeing the title pendulum swing weekend-to-weekend in favour of the other.
Currently, there are 10 points separating them at the top of the standings. The Silver Arrows has bagged five victories, while Ferrari has four to its name so far in 2018. Hamilton thinks that Mercedes is the inferior team this year, and it will have to continue to over-deliver in order to come out on top.
"We are racing a team that is faster than us this year,” he said. “Last year we were quite balanced, as there were some weekends they were faster than us and some weekends we were faster than them.
“But this year it is swinging more in their direction. We are having to over-deliver on race weekends and pull out more on weekends where we are not quick enough. The pressure to extract every millimetre of every ounce is greater than ever if I want to be number one at the end.”
Hamilton says that the closeness of the title fight means that neither team can afford a mistake, as it could prove very costly: "Ultimately last year we reached just as high in terms of pressure at some point - it is just that this year it is even closer than last year as you know, so the smallest mistakes are even more costly.
“Then there is more pressure. That is the same for any sport if you know the last shot or last serve is the most important point it is the most intense battle,” he added.
Fergal Walsh
4
Replies (9)
Login to replyRindtchamp
Posts: 304
Yeah sure.. whatever you say Lewis. zzZZZ
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
*Applauds*
Sjakiebonestakie
Posts: 3
Let's watch him rise, still... /s
boudy
Posts: 1,168
zzzzz indeed they had the best car for the last 4 years and now it's down to over performing? Dear o dear try running an car with an Renault or Honda engine...
kngrthr
Posts: 203
Mercedes are holding back in my opinion.
if they had come out and won the title with 8 races to go this year, then i think liberty would have responded with a knee jerk change in the rules.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I sorta fear thats the case, yet the sorta issues they've had this year implies that there might be actual panic by their place this time. But I really dont hope they have all that much more to deliver.
RogerF1
Posts: 501
I think maybe not pushing as hard as need to just stay in the game so they can coast when the grid penalties pile in for all the rest. Fragility has crept in so they know it’s there - unless already fixed - when they’re pushed to the limit.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I see where you're coming from,, but the reality is that it would be absurd to hold back unless you had a massive advantage of multiple seconds. Margins in F1 are very small. Furthermore, cars get developed during the year. I know it sounds like a great theory, but is preposterous. Too much money at stake. Too many egos. Fact is that Ferrari in average have had the best car this year by a small margin. They've just failed to capitalize on that advantage.
f1ski
Posts: 726
Psych games. It may work on Vettel.