Sebastian Vettel says Ferrari has “no need to be afraid” of any of the remaining tracks as he seeks to reel in and overhaul Lewis Hamilton in this year’s Formula 1 title fight.
Vettel led the standings after victory at the British Grand Prix but a sequence of mistakes and setbacks has enabled Hamilton to build a 40-point buffer over the last five events.
Vettel accepted that he did not anticipate relinquishing 10 points to Hamilton in Singapore, but asserted that Ferrari’s SF71H has the potential to be a contender at each of the remaining events.
“Lewis said he didn't expect to come here gaining 10 points, we probably didn’t come here expecting to lose 10 points,” Vettel said of Singapore.
“But, having had the race that we had, I think there’s a full justification for losing those 10 points and we take it.
“Obviously, there is still a long way to go and a lot of points to score.
“I never believed that we had the fastest car by a big margin, as people said. I know that we have a very good car.
“I think we started the season well and then we were about half a second behind in qualifying and it was crucial to get back, which we managed to – and then we had a bit of a rough time.
“But overall I think the speed is there but I think it’s a match in qualifying as much as in the race.
“Russia, I think, has been getting better the last years for us, so it should suit our car as well.
“I don’t think we have any tracks to fear that are coming.
“I think our car is working pretty much everywhere and that’s a strength of our car, so no need to be afraid of what’s coming.”
How have the rivals fared at the upcoming venues? Look away Ferrari fans…
Russia – The arrival of Sochi Autodrom on the calendar coincided with Mercedes’ surge to the front of the Formula 1 pack, and the manufacturer has not been beaten around the semi-permanent street circuit in four events. Lewis Hamilton triumphed in 2014 and 2015, Nico Rosberg in 2016, while Valtteri Bottas bagged his maiden win at last season’s event, when it was held as the fourth round. But Ferrari, winless at Sochi, locked out the front row of the grid as Vettel led a 1-2 during qualifying.
Japan – Another venue at which Mercedes has been unbeaten in the hybrid era. Hamilton has been victorious at three of the last four Japanese Grands Prix, with his run interrupted by Rosberg’s 2016 success. Ferrari has not savoured Suzuka success since 2004, though Vettel was a master of the figure-of-eight circuit with Red Bull, winning four times in five years from 2009 to 2013.
Austin – This is Hamilton territory. Since the Circuit of the Americas joined the calendar in 2012 he has missed out only once, when Vettel triumphed for Red Bull in 2013. Hamilton and Mercedes have swept up in the hybrid era, taking four straight wins, while Ferrari’s most recent victory in the States came at the penultimate Indianapolis race in 2006. It has never won at the Circuit of the Americas.
Mexico – Mexico re-joined the schedule in 2015 and Mercedes took back-to-back wins courtesy of Rosberg (2015) and Hamilton (2016). Last year Max Verstappen and Red Bull emerged on top as Hamilton wrapped up the championship, despite coming only ninth following a start clash with Vettel. Ferrari has won twice in Mexico – in 1970 and 1990 – but not on the current iteration of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Brazil – Hamilton’s bogey circuit? He has won only once in 11 attempts at Interlagos – when he dominated the rain-lashed 2016 event – which marks a poor return by his lofty standards, given a tally of 69 wins. Vettel has won three times in Brazil, most recently 12 months ago, as he and Ferrari ended Mercedes’ streak at the venue. Vettel also won in his title-winning 2010 and 2013 seasons.
Abu Dhabi – Hamilton and Vettel have three wins apiece at Yas Marina: in 2011, 2014 and 2016 for the Briton, and 2009, 2010 and 2013 his rival. As with Russia and Japan, Mercedes has not been beaten in Abu Dhabi in the hybrid era, with Hamilton’s pair of wins being followed by Rosberg and Bottas successes. Ferrari, meanwhile, has never won in Abu Dhabi.
