1
Sebastian Vettel believes Ferrari will need to have a perfect race in order to beat Mercedes in Montreal on Sunday.
Vettel will start the race from pole position, the first time he will do so since the German Grand Prix last year.
Ferrari has looked strong all weekend, with its straight-line speed advantage working in their favour around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
MORE: Qualifying: Vettel takes first pole of 2019 in Montreal | Vettel 'happy' for Ferrari after tough run
However, Vettel insists the team is not resting on its laurels as it prepares for the race, as Ferrari hopes to pick up its first win of the season.
"Obviously, there was a reason why we were able to put the car on pole,” Vettel said. "It will be a close battle but we know our strengths and we know our weaknesses. It’s a long race.
“We’re very quick down the straights, and it's not so easy to pass. In terms of pace, we know it will be close, and we need a perfect race to fight for the win.”
Vettel affirmed that the front runners will have an advantage by not having to run the soft tyre, which degraded quickly on Friday.
"It's a long race and at the end of the day, anything can happen. We race to find out, simple as that. Our pace is strong here, we're able to avoid the soft tyre in the race so at least we won't start on it.
"It's the right message for the team, we've been flat out. We've been criticised many times already this year, sometimes right, sometimes not right but that's how it goes.
"The most important thing is that we keep digging to have a result like today,"
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
280,508 comments on Aston Martin
59 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Sebastian Vettel
483,490 comments on Ferrari 279 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Ferrari
Replies (1)
Login to replymotorthread
Posts: 33
Vettel has enough experience to be able to hold a similarly powered car behind him. He needs to be more worried that the Ferrari tacticians don’t mess his race up.