Longrun analysis: Mercedes second faster than Red Bull, Renault approaches

On all compounds Mercedes are faster than the Red Bull Racing of Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon, as can be seen at Auto, Motor und Sport. Especially on the red marked tyres, the difference is staggering. Helmut Marko also indicated that this was a 'mystery' for the Austrian racing stable.

Softs

Both Bottas and Hamilton drove a longer stint on the soft tyres during the afternoon session. Bottas drove seven laps on the softs and came to an impressive average time of 1:23,796. Hamilton drove one lap longer and averaged 1:24,368 over an entire lap in Italy. Third place went to Verstappen with a 1:24.912 after eight laps. 

Behind that the Renaults seem to have the best results. Ricciardo drove no less than 14 laps on the softs and drove a 1:25.296. The Australian was only three tenths behind Verstappen's time, but he drove six laps longer. Ocon's times are comparable to those of teammate Ricciardo.

Mediums

On the mediums Hamilton managed to reach a time of 1:23:915 after ten laps. Ricciardo lost about four-tenths with a time of 1:24,356 after six laps. Verstappen was the man in P3. The 22-year old drove three laps more than his old teammate Ricciardo and was just over two tenths off the Renault car. Ocon was the driver in fourth place. Even on mediums the difference between Red Bull and Renault was only minimal. Mercedes are out of sight.

Hards

On behalf of Red Bull it was Albon who had to perform a race simulation on the hard tyres. That did not go very well, because the Thai driver was back in fourth place, behind Bottas, Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat. Albon drove an average of 1:25,252 after eleven laps. Mercedes went almost a second and a half faster. 

Sainz only drove five laps with the hard tyre and that is probably the reason why the MCL36 is so high. However, with a 1.24.754 he was almost a full second short of the German W11. Daniil Kvyat drove eleven laps and came to an average time of 1:25,185.