Lewis Hamilton cannot see beyond another Red Bull stampede after watching his rivals breeze through another qualifying session.
It is another all-Red Bull front row at the Circuit de Catalunya for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, as was the case in Turkey two weeks ago, and as was the case at this track last year.
The surprise is that after claiming pole at the last five races, Sebastian Vettel had to settle for second place behind team-mate Mark Webber.
It should have been six in succession, but yet another glitch with the KERS power-boost system robbed the reigning champion of such an honour.
KERS offers an advantage of around 0.4 seconds per lap, yet Vettel was 0.2 seconds behind Webber, who was a second clear of Hamilton in third in his McLaren, such is the supremacy of the Red Bull.
Hamilton was asked whether he could see any way of getting past either Red Bull should they get away cleanly and avoid any problems in the race.
"I've just been thinking about it," said Hamilton.
Joking, he added: "The old circuit is still there, the last two corners, so I could maybe use those. If I don't take the chicane then maybe I will be able to match their pace, but otherwise, no."
Even if Vettel's KERS problems persist at the start, Hamilton is pessimistic he will be able to make up an immediate place.
"It's always possible to overtake if he doesn't have it because ours seems to work quite well," said Hamilton.
"But then without a doubt he will be on my tail for quite some time and eventually find a way past, I'm sure."
Hamilton, who is currently 34 points adrift of Vettel with the likelihood that gap will increase on Sunday, is adamant there is no despondency.
"Formula One is the pinnacle of motor sport and nothing comes easy," said Hamilton.
"At the moment Red Bull have just done a better job and every single team is trying their hardest to catch up.
"We're second quickest at the moment, so we can't complain too much.
"I just hope at some stage we can find a significant improvement in the car in terms of downforce, that we can have a proper race with these guys."
Webber, on pole for the seventh time in his career and first since last year's Belgian Grand Prix, sounded a note of caution that it would not be as runaway a success as Hamilton suggested.
"We can see with these regulations the fast cars can still get through, whatever sometimes happens in the first part of the race," said Webber.
"It's not like the old day when if you lost 10 seconds somewhere in the race then you could maybe get stuck behind someone.
"If all goes well and smoothly then of course we should be able to go for the victory, but you never, never know.
"We had Turkey last year (when he and Vettel collided), then there were a few races last year when Lewis was maybe not as strong in qualifying, but in the race I couldn't get rid of him.
"I hope it's not like that tomorrow."
As in Turkey, both Webber and Vettel clambered out of their cars with 90 seconds remaining and after conducting just one run in Q3, knowing the job was done.
Vettel could have gone for a second run, but without KERS he instead opted to save a set of the faster, softer tyre which has become the norm these days.
In giving up a shot at pole, Vettel said: "Tomorrow we will find out just how important that was.
"I have to admit the temptation was big because I wasn't happy with my lap.
"It's a different story when you get everything 100% right and you feel you have reached your maximum and you're still a tenth or two (of a second) behind.
"I think you are much more relaxed when you jump out, but in this case I was actually keen to go again, just to prove it to myself, but I didn't get the chance today.
"Maybe I'll get it tomorrow."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso nicked fourth from Jenson Button at the death, but has one set less of soft tyres than the Briton.
Paul di Resta starts 17th in his Force India, whilst Nick Heidfeld is last on the grid for Renault after a fire in final practice prevented him from competing in qualifying.
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