Mercedes will bet on this strategy: 'Then Hamilton can pose a threat'

In a preview of the French Grand Prix, sports journalist Chris Medland predicts that Verstappen, while maintaining the speed advantage over Mercedes should be able to build a buffer over his direct rival. He also warns the drivers to once again watch out for the pitfalls of the Pirelli tyre.

If Verstappen still has the pace advantage from Friday, then he should be able to put Hamilton out of DRS range and build a buffer over the Mercedes", Medland argues in his column on Formula One's official website. "If Hamilton’s made the gains he predicts, though, he’ll be able to stick within a few seconds of Verstappen and threaten at the pit stop phase."

Medland also predicts another major challenge in the form of keeping the Pirelli tyres in one piece: "The knock-on effect of the higher pressures is that there is a smaller contact patch with the track, resulting in less grip. That smaller contact patch then receives even more concentrated energy than if it was spread over a bigger surface area, increasing temperatures."

Medland continued: "Keeping temperatures – and therefore performance – under control will be a an even tougher challenge across the 53 laps."