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)
Chassis change more a sanity check than real problem - Vettel
- Published on 09 May 2014 12:11
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
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Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
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Jan 27
M. Verstappen
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Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
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Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
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Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
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Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
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Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
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Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
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Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
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Spain
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Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Driver profile
- Team Visa Cash App RB
- Points 1,061
- Podiums 24
- Grand Prix 188
- Country AU
- Date of b. Jul 1 1989 (37)
- Place of b. Perth, AU
- Weight 64 kg
- Length 1.75 m
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