Ferrari struggles just a blip - Mercedes
ByAutoSport
Published 03/05/2016 at 11:26 GMT+1
Mercedes Formula 1 team boss Toto Wolff has suggested Ferrari's disappointing form during the Russian Grand Prix weekend was a blip, influenced by Sochi's characteristics.
Eurosport
Image credit: TNT Sports
Kimi Raikkonen finished third, 31.998 seconds behind race winner Nico Rosberg while team-mate Sebastian Vettel's race ended on lap one following an accident that was not his fault.
In qualifying, the fastest Ferrari was seven tenths off Rosberg's pole position time and after four races, Ferrari trails Mercedes by 81 points in the constructors' championship.
"The track is very different," Wolff said of Sochi.
"There's a very smooth surface and you can see that the pace from many teams was different to the races before.
"Williams was very strong here, Red Bull not strong at all; Ferrari wasn't as good as expected.
"So this is a particular circuit where you have to get it right in terms of mechanical grip and aerodynamic downforce.
"Engine power plays a role so I would say that the blip in performance we've seen from Ferrari is Sochi-specific."
Russia must be Ferrari's low point of 2016
Now 57 points ahead of the top Ferrari driver, Raikkonen, in the championship, championship leader Rosberg was not expecting Mercedes to have such a large advantage in the year's fourth grand prix.
"I'm surprised because we've always said that they were that close and they were not close at all," he said.
"We were really far ahead this weekend which was really impressive to see.
"We need to understand that now because we don't really understand it, but the track is very unique.
"The asphalt is very unique, but still some very impressive car performance from us this weekend."
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