Mercedes’ rivals look closer to the pace this weekend in China.<\/p>\n
Back-to-back winner Lewis Hamilton was the fastest overall in Shanghai practice, but Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was only a tenth behind.<\/p>\n
On Friday morning, the Spaniard was even fastest of all.<\/p>\n
Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport wondered if the red car was putting in “show rounds” to ease the pressure on the new dark glasses-wearing boss, Marco Mattiacci.<\/p>\n
But the Italian team does appear to have taken a clear step forward since Bahrain, with correspondent Michael Schmidt revealing Ferrari is using not only a new rear wing in China, but also an engine upgrade and new Shell fuel.<\/p>\n
“The competition has moved closer to us,” confirmed Mercedes’ Paddy Lowe.<\/p>\n
Closer, but not quite close enough, as confirmed by Red Bull’s Christian Horner. “We are closer,” he agreed, “but we can not challenge them on a dry track.<\/p>\n
“In the rain, we have a chance.”<\/p>\n
If it does stay dry, the main event at the front of the field could be yet another ding-dong battle between Hamilton and his fiesty teammate, Nico Rosberg.<\/p>\n
The German is desperate to prevent Hamilton from gaining the psychological “edge”, as referred to by the Briton and 2008 world champion on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Once friends, the pressure of their seemingly inevitable battle for the 2014 title is beginning to tell.<\/p>\n
Asked if he had “any contact” – a phone call, an email, a text message – with Hamilton since finishing second to his teammate in Bahrain two weeks ago, Rosberg insisted: “No, nothing.”<\/p>\n
During their wheel-to-wheel battle, Rosberg had radioed the pits, describing Hamilton’s driving as “not on”.<\/p>\n
Rosberg played that down on Thursday but admitted the pair would need to get together for a clear-the-air session.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Rosberg said: “Yes, we sat down and went through everything. It’s all behind us and flat-out ahead.”<\/p>\n
But when asked about that debrief, Hamilton shook his head and answered “No” when asked if it had taken place.<\/p>\n
Rosberg confirmed that the rivalry is becoming “tense”, and team boss Lowe said he will work hard to keep it in check as the races roll on in 2014.<\/p>\n
“We’ve already seen signs (of the tension),” he told the Guardian, “because they’ve got a winning car and they both want to win. I think it will require careful management through the year.”<\/p>\n
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