1
Sebastian Vettel believes that Red Bull will be closer to the front than what they were in Bahrain.
The energy drink squad couldn't keep up with Mercedes and Ferrari at the Sakhir circuit, after taking a podium finish at the Australian Grand Prix.
In Bahrain, Max Verstappen was almost a second away from pole-sitter Charles Leclerc. The team was denied a podium finish late on as a safety car halted Verstappen from overtaking Leclerc, whose pace fell off dramatically after he was hit with an engine issue.
But Vettel expects that it will be back on form this weekend: "It was useful to get some laps in the car," he sad of the post-Bahrain test. "I think we learned some things about car behaviour that maybe we didn’t or couldn’t in Barcelona because we were looking at other things.
"And to be fair the behaviour in Barcelona was very strong. So hopefully I have a better feeling in the car this weekend.
“Bahrain was already a lot better and the test afterwards gave me and us the chance to try some things. With those findings we come here now and see where they take us.
“We need to get everything right [in China]. It’s extremely tight at the top. I expect Red Bull to be closer here than they were in Bahrain – I’m not sure what happened there. But I expect it to be very close.”
Vettel struggled to keep up with teammate Leclerc in Bahrain and found himself spinning out when battling with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, which resulted in a shattered front wing and eventually crossed the line in fifth place.
"I wasn’t happy with my performance, not happy with the feeling yet with the car, the feeling I had in testing and so on," Vettel admitted.
"I know that I can be better and I know that we have lots of races to show and prove that. But at least when I’m not at the top of it, it’s good that he is.
“It was a surprise when we came to Australia and the car wasn’t anywhere near what we had in Barcelona, with the car being very alive and unstable.
"Bahrain I think the conditions were tricky and everyone was struggling with the wind and so on. We were surprised to find ourselves faster down the straights that other people, especially with Australia having been on the back foot. We’ll see where we are here.”
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
280,565 comments on Aston Martin
59 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Sebastian Vettel
484,440 comments on Ferrari 280 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Ferrari
Replies (1)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
That beard looks much better Vet, sure the car balance will be much better now, now that the 'stache doesn't off-balance your car.
I have no idea, at all, where Red Bull will be in China. And I'm kinda loving it. In many regards, RB-Honda was a good thing for F1, because it introduced a more or less constant unknown: where the hell will they be this time? And McLaren's current romp is similarly healthy. I am however kinda sure Ferrari will have the advantage, and bollocks up their strategy somehow.