Vettel calls Mercedes bluff: 'They're stronger than they claimed!'

©Ferrari

Sebastian Vettel reckons Mercedes has started to show its true colors, the Ferrari driver believing the German team's opening salvo on Friday showed that it is stronger than it claimed to be after pre-season testing.

Ferrari arrived in Melbourne as the outright favourite to start the season after its SF90 enjoyed a significant advantage over its rivals last month in Barcelona, with Hamilton confirming in Spain the deficit suffered by its 2019 contender relative to the Scuderia.

But following the reigning world champion's domination of both free practice sessions on Friday, Vettel called Mercedes' bluff labeling its relative struggles in winter testing as "bullshit"!

Hamilton: 'Not a bad start but plenty of stuff to improve'

"It was a bit of a surprise, I thought they looked really quick," said the German.

"And I don't know if it was just us struggling a bit today, or also others, but as a matter of fact I think they were in a league of their own.

"Maybe everyone else was struggling and then we can turn it around, but yeah, they look certainly very strong and much stronger than they claimed before the weekend."

It wasn't the cleanest of sessions for Ferrari on Friday, with Vettel ending the day P5 while team mate Charles Leclerc was ninth, also suffering a spin at the very end of FP2.

Evidently, the Italian outfit lacked pace in FP2, with Vettel also citing a lack of confidence in his SF90.

"We don't know the reasons but we're looking for them. If you find them, let us know and lead them to our garage.

"I can feel I have the car under me that I had in testing, but it doesn't do the same things, it's not doing exactly what I like here and there, and that's why I'm lacking confidence," he added.

"I don't think it was awful, I think here and there, there were bits that were really really good, and [that] we can build on."

Leclerc produced a better performance in FP1, the Monegasque being troubled by his tyres in the second session.

"At the end we are not flat-out, that's for sure," said the 21-year-old charger.

"We will only see in qualifying where we are exactly. Are we panicking? No, not yet."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.