Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari is “killing us” on the straights at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after Sebastian Vettel claimed pole position for Formula 1’s Canadian Grand Prix.
Mercedes has typically trailed Ferrari in straight-line speed through 2019 but already holds a substantial points advantage over its rival, having taken six successive victories.
Mercedes and Ferrari traded quick lap times through qualifying on Saturday afternoon, with the W10 usually faster through the first and second sectors, and the SF90 rapid in sector three.
Hamilton finished two-tenths of a second down on Vettel at the conclusion of Q3 and reckons Mercedes is being substantially beaten in the full-throttle sections.
It comes despite Mercedes introducing its Phase 2 power unit for both the factory team and customers Racing Point and Williams.
“I think we gave it everything we could,” said Hamilton. “They were just quicker. Particularly that last sector, they were just killing us. I think it was something like four-tenths or five-tenths on the straights.
“But I did everything we could and we did everything we could.
“I think the timing was right, our procedures were perfect, so I'm really thoroughly happy with the job.
“We had P1 for a second. We knew that they were quick. But this is good, this is how racing should be.
“I'm glad that I was able to split the Ferraris. Tomorrow should be interesting. The weather's fantastic, we've got a great group of fans that are here, so hopefully we can put on a good show tomorrow.”
Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate and title rival Valtteri Bottas will start from only sixth after a scruffy Q3 session derailed his ambitions.
Bottas spun through Turn 2 on his first push lap and two lock-ups on his sole timed effort hampered his prospects.
“I had a bit of a snap out of Turn 2 and actually ended up in a spin while I trying to minimise the time lost and just get going, so then I was on a bit the back foot for the last run,” he said.
“I was still feeling confident that I could still do it but I had messy laps with many lock-ups, just missing the apexes. I just need to have a look in the mirror at what went wrong.”
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