A Mercedes W09 not easy to drive for Valtteri Bottas

Mercedes will she manage to achieve her first success in 2018 on the Baku track? This is indeed the objective of Lewis Hamilton et Valtteri Bottas this weekend, after three races which turned out in favor of Ferrari and Red Bull since the start of the championship in Melbourne, Australia.

And if the Finn had started the day perfectly in Azerbaijan by setting the best time in FP1, the W09s fell slightly in the hierarchy in FP2, the Bottas – Hamilton duo failing in 4th and 5th positions.

The old pilot Williams also underlined the difficult nature of the Silver Arrow. “It's not an easy car to drive at the moment, we have some work to do with the balance, breathes Bottas.

But if we put everything the right way, the car is fast. We have a lot to look at tonight so we can make the right changes for tomorrow and Sunday. »

Bottas also highlights a factor external to the car German that will have to be taken into account during qualifying and the race.

“The fact that we are here in Baku earlier than in previous years definitely affects the tires, but the biggest concern is the wind, admits Bottas. It's supposed to be very windy tomorrow and Sunday, which makes a lot of difference on a street circuit. »

Ferrari and Red Bull ahead according to Hamilton

As for Lewis Hamilton, 4th and 5th this Friday, the time is not yet satisfied given the pace shown in Baku. “Overall we weren't fast enough today and Red Bull and Ferrari seem to be ahead of us at the moment, indicates the world champion.

So we have work to do. I'm going to knock on every engineer's door tonight, so we can make the right changes. » A studious evening is coming at Mercedes…