Sports

Revved up: Hamilton wary ahead of Australian Grand Prix

Two-time defending champion suspects Ferrari may have something up their sleeve

Agencies March 17, 2016

Vettel said Ferrari’s new SF16-H was a big improvement and a big step forward overall on last year’s car. PHOTO:

MELBOURNE: World champion Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday he suspects Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel is holding something back heading into this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg swept all before them last season, winning 16 of the 19 races as the German constructor locked up back-to-back world titles.

Vettel’s Ferrari trailed in a distant third behind Hamilton and Rosberg in last year’s drivers’ championship with three victories, but has been steadily closing the gap.

Vettel tops testing on day four

Hamilton admitted that he suspected Ferrari were closer than Vettel has been indicating. “I think this year the whole pack looks like it is a little bit closer, but, personally I think they [Ferrari] have something up their sleeve for this weekend,” Hamilton told the official media conference. “I think the Ferraris are going to be a lot closer than they talk about.”

Much of the talk leading into the new season is whether there are any teams capable of spicing up the 21-leg F1 season by taking some races off Hamilton and Rosberg.

‘Ferrari can challenge Mercedes this year’

Mercedes are deserving favourites to win the Formula One championship again, but Ferrari have a car that can challenge the Silver Arrows this year, four-time champion Vettel said on Thursday.

Formula One testing: Raikkonen fastest as Mercedes hold back

Ferrari showed impressive pace during pre-season testing and are considered the team most likely to dethrone Mercedes, who have dominated the last two seasons.

Asked whether Ferrari was strong enough to challenge for the title, German Vettel was forthright. “I think we have,” he told the pre-race media conference at Albert Park ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

New qualifying format: Hamilton lashes out at change of rules

“The question is whether we are ready in time. But we are making progress, and we have made a step over the winter. Our target is to turn things around. Mercedes are still the favourites but we are trying to become the favourites,” he said.

Vettel said Ferrari’s new SF16-H was a big improvement and a big step forward overall on last year’s car.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2016.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.