Vettel: SF90 an efficient car despite struggles

  • Published on 16 Aug 2019 15:30
  • comments 1
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Sebastian Vettel believes the Ferrari SF90 is an "efficient" car despite the lack of downforce that is seeing it struggle this season. 

After the opening 12 races of the 2019 campaign, Ferrari has failed to win a race. However, it has come close on several occasions, with Charles Leclerc denied late on by engine issues and Max Verstappen in Bahrain and Austria respectively.

MOREVettel: Binotto brings calmness to Ferrari's struggles | Important to rest after spending 'a lot of energy' - Binotto

The car has displayed some impressive straight-line speeds this year, but is losing out in the corners when it comes to direct competition with rivals Mercedes.

"Obviously we have seen the tendency that we are faster than the others on the straights and we pay the price in the corners," Vettel said.

"I think we have an efficient car but we are lacking overall downforce so these two things added together to explain why we are sometimes up, sometimes down."

Ferrari 'making progress' with car improvements

However, Vettel is adamant that Ferrari is making progress behind the scenes, with the following two races in Belgium and Italy set to suit the car's characteristics. 

"But I feel we are making progress. Bahrain was an extreme where everything was working quite well. Charles was very competitive the whole weekend. After that, we struggled to repeat it for a while.

"Canada was more straightforward, Austria, Hockenheim, I think in terms of efficiency and power limited, we were able to make more of a difference than in other places.

"But at the same time, we were able to improve the car so we were able to go in the right direction. We are working hard, bringing some new bits, trying to understand further where we are with the car and where we can go further."

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • Clearly it isn't, considering you are struggling so much.

    • + 0
    • Aug 20 2019 - 20:13

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Country Germany
  • Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (36)
  • Place of b. Heppenheim, Germany
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar