Heh.. watched the video only listening for one thing.. his comments about why he pulled the fastest lap with the automatic in auto mode, not in attack mode (where he would have to use paddles)

from him
- more experience with the automatic throughout that one week
- less chance of him making a mistake with the car shifting for him

So, even if the manual transmission is faster... I doubt he will be able to post a faster time around the 'Ring in it.

If he spent a week tesing and getting 110% comfortable with the manual he would - note he said the racer in him was not about to let him switch to the "unknown" car on race day ;)

Even though he mentions that, he also says he did the lap in sport mode, not attack mode, so that he could get a faster time.

No race driver, even the Ring man him self, Hans Stuck, has claimed to do a 'perfect' lap around the 'Ring.