Sebastian Vettel thinks his 'new' chassis helped him to pull out of his 2014 crisis. Until Barcelona, the reigning quadruple world champion has struggled at the wheel of his original RB10 car, affectionately nicknamed 'Suzie' by the German.
So, with Dr Helmut Marko fearing a chassis crack, Red Bull reverted as a precaution to its winter testing monocoque for Vettel to drive in Spain and beyond. Although grappling with nightmarish reliability for most of the weekend, Vettel ultimately scythed through the field in the race, declaring afterwards: "I feel like I have a car in my hands again."
Asked by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport if he thinks the chassis change was key, Vettel agreed: "I do think it made a difference. At least the question mark went away," he added, referring to the uncertain handling of the car he experienced in 2014 until Barcelona. "As for the pace, it was reasonable," said Vettel.
While happy with the Adrian Newey-penned RB10 overall, Red Bull is pushing engine supplier Renault to make further improvements. In Spain, the team benefitted from a new blend of fuel supplied by Total. "In the car itself you don't feel more power," said Vettel, "but we were not as vulnerable on the straight as usual, so I do think it gave us a bit."
But for the moment, he acknowledged that Mercedes is a long way ahead. "They have a phenomenal engine, two very good drivers, a very good car, and a very good team, they're doing a good job so it would be wrong to complain and moan about how dominant they are. They worked better than everyone else in the winter and deserve to be in that position," Vettel added. (GMM)
Vettel thinks chassis change mada a difference in Spain
- Published on 13 May 2014 09:44
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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L. Norris
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Feb 13
A. Antonelli
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
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Spain
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
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Spain
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Bahrain International Circuit
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6 - Mar 8
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Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
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Miami International Autodrome
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Gilles Villeneuve
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Red Bull Ring
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Silverstone
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Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Driver profile
- Team Aston Martin
- Points 1,480
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- Grand Prix 161
- Country DE
- Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (39)
- Place of b. Heppenheim, DE
- Weight 62 kg
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Team profile
- Team name Mercedes
- Base Brackley, Germany
- Michael Schumacher 3
- Nico Rosberg 4
- Nico Rosberg 6
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- Nico Rosberg 8
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- Lewis Hamilton 44
- George Russell 63
- Valtteri Bottas 77
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