MONTMELO, Spain -- With just two weeks remaining before the first race of the 2019 Formula One season, Lewis Hamilton believes his Mercedes is 0.5s per lap slower than the pace-setting Ferrari.
After eight days of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya, Ferrari has emerged as the overwhelming favourites ahead of the first race in Australia. Sebastian Vettel set a 1:16.221 on the final morning of testing, giving him an advantage of 0.340s over Hamilton's teammate Valtteri Bottas using the same compound tyres.
However, after taking into account fuel loads, engine modes and other variables, Hamilton believes the true gap to Ferrari could be even bigger.