“I don’t think we’ve seen the best of the Red Bulls yet”– Lewis Hamilton predicts Red Bull rampage even after FP2 exploits in Imola.
Mercedes had an incredible first day to the second Grand Prix of the season, as it bossed the free practice sessions with both drivers sealing P1 and P2 during the two sessions.
A mighty improvement when compared to their practice sessions in Bahrain, “It’s a bit of both,” answered Hamilton to the question of whether it was car improvement or a circuit-specific.
“There’s been a bit of car improvement, but track comes a bit to us. So far, the car’s in a good place; the tyres are working really well.” Despite the powerful performance, Hamilton is still wary of Red Bull.
The Milton-Keynes based team boasted its power in Bahrain but had a tough start to this Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen taking retirement early in FP2.
Yet Hamilton thinks that people are yet to see the full potential of Red Bull this year, which reportedly gives a chance against Mercedes’ title reign.
“But I don’t think we’ve seen the best of the Red Bulls yet. It looked like they had quite messy sessions.”
Cooler temperature helped
Hamilton drew a contrast against Bahrain and Imola and concluded that the lower temperature helped his team’s cause in the end. “When it’s this cool, the tyres don’t overheat from entry to middle to exit as they did there. Here you’re in a nice sweet spot.”
Though amidst the saddening end to Red Bull, there is a grimmer hope for them, as Pierre Gasly finished P3 in the FP2 session, meanwhile both Verstappen and Sergio Perez couldn’t fetch a respectable standing for the team.
So, it remains to be seen where this rivalry goes outside or on social circles.
