Vettel confident Ferrari can challenge Mercedes on race pace

Sebastian Vettel believes that Ferrari can come back stronger on Sunday after being dominated by Mercedes during qualifying. Vettel, who will line-up in third behind an all Mercedes front row, was over half a second down on pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas.

Ferrari won in Brazil last time out which was its first win since the Hungarian Grand Prix, before the summer break. It was thought that Ferrari would challenge the Silver Arrows for pole position on Saturday, however, Mercedes streaked ahead and Ferrari found both of its cars split by Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull.

Long Runs In FP2
  Hamilton Vettel
Lap 1 Out Lap Out Lap
Lap 2 1:43.000 1:43.947
Lap 3 1:42.185 1:43.878
Lap 4 1:42.410 1:43.765
Lap 5 1:47.092 1:43.750
Lap 6 1:42.903 1:43.335
Lap 7 1:44.939 1:43.218
Lap 8 1:47.668 1:43.524
Lap 9 1:42.313 1:43.880

"I think it was a good session but a bit of a shame to be that far back in qualifying,” Vettel said. "Tomorrow we will see with race pace I think we can be a bit closer but they have been very, very strong. Valtteri obviously had a mega lap so congratulations to him but it should be a fun race. Overtaking is not always straightforward but not impossible so we’ll see."

Vettel added that he was surprised Hamilton did not snatch pole after the pace he showed throughout the weekend, and was disappointed by how large the gap was between Mercedes and Ferrari was.

"Yesterday and this morning I was quite confident that Lewis in particular was very quick, like in FP3, and should get more in the direction of yesterday but it was more the other way around. Mercedes in general were very quick, Valtteri put in a mega lap so the gap was bigger than I expected."

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Cadillac F1
  • Points 1,608
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 211
  • Country FI
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (36)
  • Place of b. Nastola, FI
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar