Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are shocked.
They did not anticipate to be beginning Sunday’s Australian Method One Grand Prix from second and third on the grid.
And so they definitely did not anticipate to be closing the hole on Purple Bull’s pole-sitting pacesetter Max Verstappen.
“It’s a shock, little question about it,” Russell mentioned.
Russell was simply 0.236 seconds behind Verstappen in Saturday’s qualifying at Albert Park.
And Hamilton was 0.372 seconds behind Purple Bull’s reigning world champion.
However each Mercedes males doubt they’ll catch Verstappen on Sunday.
“We’ve received to go for it, have not we, we now have received to go for the win,” Russell mentioned.
“Max goes to be extraordinarily quick, there is no hiding that.
“It is troublesome to overhaul round this circuit so the beginning, lap one, goes to be very important.
“However the Purple Bull has extraordinary prime velocity so it may be very troublesome to combat with Max.”
Hamilton concurred.
“Every little thing got here collectively at present,” the seven-time world champion mentioned.
“We hope that tomorrow that we are able to one way or the other maintain on.
“He (Verstappen) would possibly draw back into the space like he has performed prior to now however we’ll give it our greatest shot.”
Verstappen, who gained the season-opening grand prix and completed second behind teammate Sergio Perez within the subsequent race, additionally admitted astonishment on the qualifying feats of the Mercedes pair.
“I’m slightly bit stunned – possibly they’re additionally slightly bit stunned,” he mentioned.
“But it surely’s factor.
“It is all about having the tires in the correct window and I suppose they did job with that as effectively.”
