time Tables in hand, Ferrari is the second team in Sepang. However, the rhythms in long runs completed a perspective somewhat more complicated for the Italian team, very far from Mercedes, and with the threat of Red Bull in the neck. Be that as it may, the structure of italy has focused its work in assessing all the compounds offered by Pirelli and know their behavior in the new asphalt of the malaysian track. The result is that Vettel and Räikkönen have alternated in third and fourth position, with a line parallel working in the FP1 and different in the FP2.
In the first free, Sebastian Vettel finished in fourth position after evaluating the three compounds brought to Malaysia by Pirelli. The German pilot signed a best time of 1:36.331, record reached with the soft tyres. Already in FP2, Vettel was following the path marked by the team and completed your long runs with media: “I Think we had a day of decent. We tried a few things and the pace was not too bad, at least from the inside of the car. Mercedes is once again at the forefront over a long distance and to one turn. We are happy with our work, but we have not seen what they have done to other teams in long runs”.
despite all Vettel was convinced he can improve: “I’m sure you can find a bit of time. We can do better. Our goal should be to win and although it is evident that here we are not strong enough to say that we will win, if there is any possibility, we have to be there and take advantage of it”. Finally, in relation to the great change of the end of the week, the German explained: “The new asphalt seems to be a step forward and now the last curve is a little more complicated. I have not used the tires hard in the FP2, the soft is preferred. Now we have to see what is the strategy for Sunday“.
Kimi Räikkönen for its part, has been third in FP1 and fourth in FP2. The finn finished with a time in the second free of 1:35.842, although in this case the pilot suomi has completed all of their long runs with the soft tyre, allowing technicians of Ferrari additional information: “you can’t say that was an easy day. I didn’t have a good feeling with the car throughout the two sessions, that is why I am surprised by the lap time, because it is not so bad. Taking into account the feelings that I had inside the car, we are far away from what I want“.
In relation to the new asphalt of Sepang and the small variations that have been made in some of its curves, Räikkönen explained to the press: “The new asphalt, it feels very similar to the one I had before, but it is more mild and there is a little more grip. I have not seen what they have done to the other teams, I was focused on our program. Now we have to sit down and think of all the possibilities. There is work to do, but I’m sure we can improve tomorrow“.
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