Haug – I thought Ferrari would dominate
Mercedes-Benz's competition director expressed surprise that Lewis Hamilton got within a tenth of snatching pole position for the Turkish grand prix from Felipe Massa.
"If Ferrari is the favorite," he told the German broadcaster RTL, "then we are a half tenth away. We would have nearly snatched it with a really super lap from Lewis."
Haug pointed out that, on Friday morning, the red cars built at Maranello seemed at least a second quicker than their Woking rivals.
"But we are absolutely on eye-level with them," he insisted. "I think the spectators are pleased — for Sunday, everything is in it.
"I cannot promise a victory, but if we have a good strategy and are reliable, then everything should be possible."
Haug added, meanwhile, that he thought Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, third on the grid, is carrying less fuel than pole-man Massa, who won here in 2006.