New world championship leader Sebastian Vettel says he is confident ahead of the first French Grand Prix in a decade. Having captured the lead in the drivers' title standings by a single point in Canada, the German says his 2018 Ferrari "works wherever we go".
As for the Paul Ricard circuit, he admitted he has "absolutely no idea" what to expect of the returning F1 venue. But Vettel is at least not overly worried about the thinner Pirelli tyres. "We found what made us so uncompetitive in Spain," he said. "The problem was not the new tyre, but how we prepared our car for them. We were wrong. That makes me confident that when we use these stiffer tyres again, we'll know what to do," said Vettel.
Vettel about tyres: "Problems with thinner tyres are solved"
- Published on 21 Jun 2018 14:33
-
3
- By: Danny Sosef
.
Trending news
-
What the Verstappen-Red Bull summit really meansMax Verstappen held talks with Red Bull's ownership group in Salzburg this week, a meeting that has reignited spe...
12 Jun 2026 14:19 -
Ferrari's rising star could push Esteban Ocon out of HaasEsteban Ocon's tenure at Haas appears increasingly fragile after just one season, with Ferrari reportedly pushing...
12 Jun 2026 13:17 -
How Antonelli could rewrite Italian F1 history in BarcelonaAndrea Kimi Antonelli stands on the threshold of Italian Formula 1 history this weekend in Barcelona. The Mercedes dr...
12 Jun 2026 12:16 -
Pérez: 'Only now do people see how good I really am'Sergio Pérez has claimed his performances at Cadillac are finally revealing his true level as a Formula 1 driv...
12 Jun 2026 15:20 -
What Antonelli really thinks about the FIA's Red Bull engine rulingMercedes driver and championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli has admitted surprise at the FIA's conclusion that ...
12 Jun 2026 16:22
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
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
Driver profile
- Team Aston Martin
- Points 1,480
- Podiums 56
- Grand Prix 161
- Country Germany
- Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (38)
- Place of b. Heppenheim, Germany
- Weight 62 kg
- Length 1.75 m
- 281,401 comments on Aston Martin
57 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Sebastian Vettel
Team profile
- Team name Ferrari
- Base Maranello, Italy
- Kimi Räikkönen 1
- Michael Schumacher 1
- Michael Schumacher 1
- Felipe Massa 2
- Fernando Alonso 3
- Felipe Massa 3
- Michael Schumacher 3
- Felipe Massa 4
- Kimi Räikkönen 4
- Sebastian Vettel 5
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Felipe Massa 5
- Michael Schumacher 5
- Michael Schumacher 5
- Felipe Massa 6
- Felipe Massa 6
- Kimi Räikkönen 6
- Felipe Massa 6
- Kimi Räikkönen 7
- Felipe Massa 7
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Fernando Alonso 14
- Charles Leclerc 16
- Gerhard Berger 28
- Gerhard Berger 28
- Lewis Hamilton 44
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- 509,100 comments on Ferrari
- 283 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Ferrari
Replies (3)
Login to replyajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I thought the tyre change was a super secret conspiracy by Pirelli to favor Mercedes? So that then they can go on to establish a new world order and stuff...
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
If so, it was a very halfhearted attempt, and it seems like Ferrari has been able to sort it out.
f1ski
Posts: 726
it was requested by mercedes as they probably knew that would solve their graining issue. a quote
Pirelli will undertake structural changes to its compounds to avoid blistering at certain tracks following a request from Mercedes.
According to Auto Motor und Sport, the German manufacturer consulted with Pirelli during pre-season testing in Barcelona in order to address the issue of extreme blistering of its tyres.
The Silver Arrows outfit suggested a reduction of the thickness of its rubber on recently resurfaced tracks such as Barcelona, Silverstone and Paul Ricard.
A long time ago when no safety cars were called teams cut their tires to suit their needs