Sebastian Vettel expressed caution over his 2018 prospects, believing Ferrari is currently worse off than it was last year, despite making it back-to-back wins in Australia.
This year’s race around the streets of Albert Park bore similarities to 12 months ago, with Hamilton leading away from pole, only for Vettel to claim overall honours.
However, last season Vettel used Ferrari’s pace to extend his first stint, while also profiting from Hamilton getting stuck behind the yet-to-stop Max Verstappen.
On Sunday Vettel remained a low-key third, behind Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen, and used a well-timed Virtual Safety Car period to make his sole pit stop.
Vettel emerged from the pits a few car lengths ahead of Hamilton, and kept the Briton at bay across the remainder of the race, the Mercedes driver struggling in dirty air, at a circuit where passing is notoriously difficult.
When asked about the similarities to 2017’s race, Vettel replied: “Well, at the moment we’re a bit worse off.
“Last year we had more pace at this point. If you look at the gaps the whole weekend we’re not yet a true match.
“Obviously we had very good pace today, Kimi was very strong in the first stint. I think I was probably a tiny bit stronger in the second stint but it was a different race for us.
“But I think if you look and you are fair, then Lewis was fastest whereas last year I think we were fastest and it was very, very close.
“Therefore at this point we know that we are not yet where we want to be because we want to be fastest.”
Vettel also expanded on his own feeling with the SF71-H, commenting: “I think the car has huge potential but I’m still struggling a little bit.
“I think if we also compare to where we’re still a bit weak, it’s where I also feel that the car is not yet there
“What am I missing, when you talk about something that you miss as a driver, the car doesn’t respond the way you like and it’s still sliding in places you don’t want it to slide.
“I want the car to be spot on when I hit the brakes and turn in, and in that window, I’m not yet happy, so it’s always sort-of a compromise.
“Of course, it’s our job to drive around problems that we have but if I could chose, I would like it a bit different.
“It’s not a big drama. I think we can live with it but I feel also if we get on top of that then you feel more confident.”
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