Sebastian Vettel shrugged off his and Ferrari’s single-lap pace deficit during practice for Formula 1's French Grand Prix, insisting he is “not stressed” over the gap to Lewis Hamilton.
Vettel finished in fifth place in both of Friday’s sessions at Circuit Paul Ricard, 0.941s off Hamilton’s best in the first encounter, a gap that grew to 1.150s in the second session.
Vettel, though, played down the difference, confident that he can unlock the potential from the SF71-H with which he went pole-to-victory at the last round in Canada.
“I think the car was quick, but I wasn't able to be quick with the car today, simple as that,” he said.
“Sometimes you have these days. I think it's a tricky track, not easy to get everything right from start to finish.
“Some corners are difficult to find the sweet spot. I think on the long run I was able to play a little bit more, try different things with lines and understand a little bit more.
“On one lap it looks like we are a little bit more behind. I didn't put great laps in. Therefore I'm not too stressed about the one lap performance.
“Usually come qualifying we are able to pick up the pace, but as I said, for tonight, I need to understand what I need to do to the car and understand what we can do on top of that to make the car faster, and it should be fine.
“I feel the car has more potential. It's definitely there. But I wasn't able to get it. Hopefully we can find something tonight.
“I need to have a good night's sleep, and then we'll be OK tomorrow.”
Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen classified fourth in both sessions, over three-quarters of a second adrift of Hamilton.
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