Red Bull admits single-lap pace a worry

Red Bull is not currently able to match the single-lap pace Mercedes showed in Monaco Grand Prix free practice, reckons Mark Webber.

The Australian’s fifth place in the afternoon was the champion team’s best result of practice day in Monte Carlo.

Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg was quickest in both sessions, leading team-mate Lewis Hamilton in a one-two in practice two.

Asked if he felt Rosberg’s pace was within Red Bull’s reach, Webber was sceptical.

“If we could, we would have done it today,” said Webber.

“1m14.7s is not hanging around but let’s see how things go.

“We were not really in the window here last year up until my last lap in Q3, so we need to rediscover that if I can and be towards the front – you need to be there here.”

Sebastian Vettel, who had KERS issues and was unable to get a lap-time boost when he switched from softs to super-softs, agreed that one-lap speed was Red Bull’s worry.

“Unfortunately we had a big change and we lost quite a lot of time in the afternoon,” he said.

“Not completely ideal but that is Friday – or in this case, Thursday.

“We would like to be a little bit more competitive in low-fuel configuration so we need to try and find some lap time there.

“My run on super-soft was very poor, so we need to understand why. I wasn’t able to improve which you should be quite easily.

“After that I did a long run on super-soft and it seemed quite OK.”

Webber added that he was not concerned to be lacking time at this stage as he never expected to be on the pace immediately in Monaco.

“You will never come to Monte Carlo and have the perfect day or perfect set-up,” he said.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/red-bull-admits-single-lap-pace-a-worry

Mike Harris Cuth Harrison Brian Hart Gene Hartley