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Chassis change more a sanity check than real problem - Vettel

Chassis change more a sanity check than real problem - Vettel

  • Published on 09 May 2014 12:11
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Sebastian Vettel has confirmed he switched chassis ahead of this weekend's Spanish grand prix because of his poor performance in China. After Shanghai, where the reigning world champion was ordered to move aside for the quicker Daniel Ricciardo, Dr Helmut Marko said Vettel would get a new chassis for Barcelona because his original RB10 could have "a hairline crack".

But chief designer Rob Marshall this week seemed to contradict Marko when he said Vettel's chassis change "was scheduled at the start of the season". "From our point of view we'd rather give them one or two new chassis during the season that we have been able to check out in the factory using various testing methods," he explained.

However, German Vettel on Thursday revealed that his new RB10 for Spain actually isn't 'new' at all. "Obviously if you change, you change to a new one, but we decided to change back to an older chassis just to make sure nothing is wrong," he told reporters.

Vettel said the decision to revert to the winter testing chassis is to eliminate a flaw as the potential cause of his recent struggles. "We don't think that there was anything wrong with the old chassis but nevertheless we decided to change," he explained. "It's more a sanity check rather than a real problem with the other chassis. It's just to try everything we can and basically reset and start again."

Teammate Ricciardo on Thursday said it is not unusual for Vettel to be switching chassis. "I think if you feel you have races that are at less than optimal performance, you try to find some answers," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace. "I will change eventually as well, but the last few races have been good for me, so I have no reason to yet." (GMM)
F1 News Daniel Ricciardo Sebastian Vettel

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Pos
Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
195
2
Ferrari
151
3
McLaren
96
4
Mercedes
52
5
Aston Martin
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7
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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Driver profile

AU Daniel Ricciardo 3
  • Team Visa Cash App RB
  • Points 1,049
  • Podiums 24
  • Grand Prix 175
  • Country AU
  • Date of b. Jul 1 1989 (34)
  • Place of b. Perth, AU
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
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