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"Verstappen has now reached Hamilton's level in terms of tyre management"
- GPblog.com
Max Verstappen did not drive the C4s or C5s this test week and therefore does not appear at the top of the combined timesheets for the three days of testing. Nevertheless, the Red Bull Racing driver is the favourite at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The RB19 would currently be two to four tenths faster than the Ferrari car, Auto, Motor und Sport calculated .
On the C4 tyres, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were seven-tenths slower than Perez on the same compound. For Verstappen, there was no need to run on that tyre as Pirelli will only make C1 through C3 available next week. Verstappen's fastest time on the C3s were similar to the times the SF23 managed to set last week, but still the Dutchman has the advantage.
No one faster than Verstappen
The aforementioned German medium writes: 'If we correct the times with factors like how much fuel was in the tank, engine mode and tarmac temperature, the Red Bull with the world champion in the cockpit is estimated to be two to four tenths faster than the Ferrari over a lap and six tenths faster than the Mercedes.' In the long run, the gap would currently be bigger.
Verstappen is once again at a lonely height in the race simulations. Even teammate Perez does not come close. "Checo is wearing out the rear tyres faster than Max," said Marko, who has seen Verstappen take another step forward. "Max has now reached Hamilton's level in terms of tyre management."
Mercedes surprised at Red Bull
The RB19 impressed in Bahrain mainly with its lower rear axle. No team has tuned its bolide as low as Red Bull. Mercedes is somewhat surprised by this: "They are ten millimetres below everyone else. If we drove that low, our floor would break," said someone from the German camp.