Sebastian Vettel says the next races will be “really crucial” for Ferrari in its bid to claw back points against Mercedes, after a difficult start to the 2019 season.
Mercedes has won all six races so far this year, including five 1-2 finishes, to establish a 118-point buffer over Ferrari, which has only been in realistic contention in Bahrain and Azerbaijan.
Sebastian Vettel is the highest-placing non-Mercedes driver in the title race but he already languishes 55 points behind World Champion Lewis Hamilton.
“I think we have not had the start we are looking for, but nevertheless we were able to score some valid and good points,” said Vettel.
“I think the next races will be really crucial for us to try and get back to the front and give a hard time to Mercedes.
“Once we can establish that I think we have plenty of reason to look forward.
“Like I said, it will be crucial to do it sooner rather than later, but at the moment I am not too fussed and saying this is the date that it has to happen by. We will see how it goes.
“Clearly we are behind, clearly there is quite a big gap between Mercedes and the rest, so Mercedes and ourselves, we have to close that gap and get ahead otherwise it will be difficult to turn it around.
“That’s as much realism as you can get right now.”
Vettel also dismissed suggestions that Ferrari should switch focus to 2020 after the next few events, should the same pattern unfold.
“What do we have? It’s June, so what do we have in June? We have France and then Austria,” he said. “So quite a few races coming quick … England.
“So anyway, I don’t think you need to be a genius that by the latest summer – ok, we are already summer now – but before the summer break we need to be in very good shape to use that momentum in the second half to turn it around.
“But I am not too stressed, we will go step by step and we have certain things in the pipeline and I think we have an understanding of what the car needs, somethings that we can apply short-term, some things more long-term and then we can quickly within these weeks find out where we are.”
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