Ferrari F1 Continues to Impress as Lewis Hamilton Predicts 1–2 Finish for the Prancing Horses at Bahrain GP

As per the day 2 results, Mercedes are having a really hard time at the Bahrain pre-season testing with the new W13. Even the Silver Arrow ace Lewis Hamilton now believes Ferrari to win the upcoming season opener at Bahrain. Although the German constructors had a phenomenal performance at the Barcelona testing, the same is not happening in Bahrain. Lewis Hamilton finished fifth on Day 2, compared to his first-place finish in Bahrain. Also, the new Mercedes driver George Russell finished 13th which was disappointing compared to the 2nd fastest lap that he set in Barcelona.

Meanwhile, the legendary Italian constructors, Ferrari, has shifted their gears up from the Barcelona testing. Both Ferrari drivers finished second and third on the first day in Bahrain and then Carlos Sainz again finished P2 on the second day. The performance by the Italian team has impressed everyone, including the seven-time World Champion. Moreover, he is even favoring the red team for the top-two finish in the first race.

Hamilton reported to Crash, “I really don’t know. I think Ferrari, from what I can see, today Ferrari would probably be getting a 1-2 or maybe Red Bull.”

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The seven-time world champion even favours Red Bull to win the season opener, as the Austrian constructors gave him a hard time last season.

Carlos Sainz dismisses the praise from Mercedes

Alongside Hamilton, the new Mercedes driver, George Russell, also admired the performance that the Italian F1 giants. However, the Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz doesn’t agree with the statements. The Spaniard even rejected the former Williams driver’s praises.

The Ferrari man states, “If it would be the first year they’ve done it then I would maybe believe them but they’ve done it for five or six years now and they keep surprising us in the first race.”

“As you can imagine I don’t believe much. … We can see what they are doing [on track] and I’m not going to say much.”

The Spanish F1 driver isn’t wrong. Even in the last season, Mercedes were having a tough time in the pre-season testing. However, the German F1 team shocked the whole world and went on to bag two podium finishes in the first race. Lewis Hamilton finished in the first place whereas, his then-teammate Valtteri Bottas finished third on the podium.

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Lewis Hamilton is currently busy with his F1 team for the last day of the pre-season testing at Bahrain. The 2022 season is just a few days away and it would be interesting to see what Hamilton and Mercedes bring to the race.