Lewis Hamilton is unsure Mercedes will have the pace to challenge Formula 1 rival Ferrari for victor💜y in Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix after finishing half a second adrift during qualifying in Shanghai.

Ferrari swept to a front-row lock-out for the second race in succession on Saturday afternoon as Sebastian Vettel led home ꦆteammate Kimi Raikkonen at the front of the pack.

Merce꧟des struggled to challenge Ferrari throughout qualifying as Valtteri Bottas and teammate Hamilton ailed to P3 and P4 on the grid respecti💟vely, finishing half a second back from the Ferraris ahead.

Asked why Mercedes struggled so much, Hami൩lton admitted he was “not🅘 really sure”, and was uneasy about the team’s chances heading into the race.

“I don’t know if we can challenge, we’re half a secon🦩d behind today. Honestly I can’t tell you if we can challenge,” Hamilton said.

“We were quicker in the race [than in qualifying] at th🍃e 🅘last race, but they were able to hold on.

“They’ll probably do the same tomorrow.”


Hamilton took some comfort from the o🐽vertaking opportunities at the Shanghai Internatio🧜nal Circuit, but admitted Ferrari’s straight-line speed would make it difficult to pass.


“I think it’s ওlike in the top t🐬hree of the easier [tracks] to overtake, the deltas are generally a second,” Hamilton said.

“But the Ferraris are too fast on the straight, so it’ll 🅘be interesting. It’ll be ho🌸tter tomorrow so it will be a challenge to see whether or not we can keep up with them.”