Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene says he was not surprised to see Mercedes prevail at last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix and thinks they remain the better team at the moment.
After defeating both W06 Hybrids fair and square in Malaysia, Ferrari had once again been tipped as genuine contenders to the reigning world champions at Shanghai International Circuit.
Solid Friday's free practice pace from Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen backed up the initial expectations. However, Mercedes truly showed its hand in Saturday’s qualifying as pole sitter Lewis Hamilton edged out Vettel’s SF15-T by nearly one second.
Although the four-time world champion and his Finnish team-mate were able to stay within threatening distance from the leaders during their first two stints, the Ferrari duo was unable to mount pressure in the closing stages of the race. This did not catch Arrivabene off guard.
“After Malaysia, it was a big happiness for all of us,” said the Ferrari team principal. “But (in China) we were expecting exactly what happened.
“For us, it was no news that Mercedes was very strong. Our strategy was to be as much as possible near by them, all ready to take advantages of any mistakes. It happened exactly like what we had in mind. So I think we achieved our objectives.
“In the first part we were attacking, in the second part we were defending. It was a simple, straightforward strategy.”
Quizzed on a timeframe for reeling in the current frontrunners as well as on his hopes for the upcoming race in Bahrain, Arrivabene says Ferrari is focusing on its own development but also hints at lofty ambitions.
“Catching Mercedes? I don’t have the crystal ball so I don’t know because I know what we are doing, I know what we are expecting for the future. I don’t know what they are doing. At the moment they are the strongest team.
“We go step by step, following our programme. As I said many times, we need to be ready at anytime at the moment. Then we will see during the season.
“If I’m going to say “Mercedes has to be careful (in Bahrain), we’re going to win, we’re going to give them a tough time” you see everybody there laughing. But we try to do our best to make you stop laughing.”
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