nhojekim wrote:So that is why Hamilton was visiting the sandtraps? He was filling the sandbags.
Sandbagging doesn't necessarily mean he's taking it easy on all corners. They will have to push on certain sections of the track to learn about the car's limits. Another possibility is that they are finding the limits of the car on a heavier fuel load.[/quote]
You are just contradicting yourself. If they are not taking the corners easy and trying to push it then that's not sandbagging.[/quote]
What on earth makes you think that? It's trivial to lift and coast to sand bag, or to not push on certain corners to sand bag, while still testing the limits of the car in certain areas of the track.
And if they are trying to simulate the race on heavy fuel it would be illogical that you will just try to pick the corners to push.
These were two completely distinct options. They could be running the car with 120kg of fuel in so that they are able to push everywhere, and discover what the behaviour of the car is on heavy fuel, while at the same time appearing slower than they're actually able to go.
Note, if anything, Merc are further ahead here than in Aus – in Aus they weren't even P1 in some practice sessions.