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Palmer: Mercedes pile the pressure on Ferrari

Palmer: Mercedes pile the pressure on Ferrari

16-04-2019 17:00
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Bobby Vincent

Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes "flawless" Mercedes piled the pressure on Ferrari with their third successive one-two finish in China last weekend.

Valtteri Bottas started at the Shanghai International Circuit on pole-position, but a perfect start and an early move for Lewis Hamilton saw him record his second consecutive victory of the season.

With Bottas winning in Melbourne, Ferrari haven't once come too close to winning a race this season - with Charles Leclerc coming closest, but for an engine failure in Bahrain.

Palmer, who used to drive for Renault F1, believes Mercedes made a real statement with its dominant display in China and the pressure is big on Ferrari following the one-two finish.

"There are many reasons why Mercedes have started the season so well - and been so successful since 2014," Palmer said in his BBC Sport column. "Firstly, Lewis Hamilton himself. He's the best driver in the current field, and maybe the best Formula 1 driver ever.

"In Bahrain, he single-handedly took the fight to Ferrari, who arguably had a bigger pace advantage than Mercedes had enjoyed in China last Sunday. Yet look at the differences between Hamilton and the other three drivers in the top two teams.

"There's a long way to go, but it would take a brave man to bet against the Silver Arrows right now."