Valtteri Bottas expressed surprise at the margin he and Mercedes held over Ferrari during qualifying in Spain, as the Finn comfortably took pole position.
Bottas set a new track record at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with a time of 1:15.406, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton took second in spite of a scruffy pair of Q3 laps.
Lead Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel was eight-tenths down on Bottas’ benchmark as he took third position, with Charles Leclerc fifth.
"I have to say that when I saw the times we definitively expected Ferrari to be closer,” said Bottas.
"Also, based on what happened in winter testing, this seemed to be a track that really suited their car.
"But since yesterday’s practice we really saw we were on good form and we’ve done a good job, as a team, with the direction we’re taking the car to, where to find the performance and how, and so on.
"We’ve done a really good job at that and I think we’re all impressed."
Bottas and Hamilton contested the lead of the race on the opening lap in Azerbaijan, with the Finn remaining in front, and he expects a similar situation on Sunday.
"For sure it’s going to be important," said Bottas on the start.
"It’s one of the longer runs down to Turn 1, so the start performance is going to be definitively going to be important. There’s also a bit of a tow effect for the cars behind.
"On a track where it is definitively difficult to overtake, the start and Turn 1 are going to be important. It’s pretty normal and I’m looking forward to the fight."
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