The Mercedes team are streaks ahead of the rest of the field, but Valtteri Bottas isn't confident that their engine upgrade will be enough to catch the speed of Ferrari, insisting it's just a "small step".
Mercedes have won every race so far this season with Lewis Hamilton winning four races and Bottas claiming two victories in a dominant showing so far in 2019. Their one-two streak was broken in Monaco when Sebastian Vettel beat Bottas to second, but they still have a strong grip on their World Championship lead.
Despite the lead in points, it has always been known that the Ferrari is capable of higher speeds, and despite deploying an engine upgrade this weekend in Canada the Finn isn't confident it will be enough to catch them.
"Obviously we expect to gain some power with the new engine, but also to take only a small step forward," Bottas said as quoted by Motorsport.
"We don't think it's enough to reach Ferrari's straight line speed.
"They will be stronger on this, but we will have our strengths in other areas.
"I think we are introducing it at the right time, because the engine one is coming to the end of its life cycle, so we still need to fit a new one."
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