Driving with low downforce is always a bit eerie, especially when you first start out. You have to get use to it, calm down and just try and understand what the car is going to do in that configuration.
Under braking it is always a bit problematic too because you are running so little down-force and it is a difficult getting the car to stop as efficiently as you would like.
It may be that
Ferrari is strong again then because they should be able to still run a bit of downforce and be competitive in terms of lap times.
Saying that though the Mercedes engine is definitely good and whether anyone else comes into play we will have to wait and see.
BMW could well be there – but it will be all about consistency in the race and that means it will probably again be a two-horse race.
In terms of the two championships it is getting to a crucial stage in the year now and it is very tight in the race for the drivers’ title.
Lewis Hamilton remains top and it is new territory for him – and the sport – to have a rookie leading the way, as he has been now for several races. Things have started to go the other way of late for him though and his lead is steadily, but slowly, being eroded.
Considering the blip in Turkey however with the tyre, he still managed to recover well and gain some points and overall it was a strong weekend for him. Definitely his qualifying performance was fantastic and I don’t think he will be too concerned.
His whole attitude seems to be that there isn’t too much for him to lose and in some ways I think he feels he shouldn’t be there in the first place. So hats off to him!
Of course the big question is can he hang on?
It is difficult to say, especially as the Ferraris are now so competitive. He does seem to have the upper hand in many ways over his team-mate,
Fernando Alonso though and now is when the pressure is going to really mount.
