Sebastian Vettel says it was “not an option” for Ferrari to stay out and try and execute a one-stop strategy during the Spanish Grand Prix, after he slipped from second to fourth.
The front-runners all started on the Soft compound tyre, with pre-race predictions suggesting that a two-stop was potentially quicker, but a one-stop strategy also achievable.
Vettel picked off Valtteri Bottas off the line and preserved second place through the first round of stops, as the leader exchanged Softs for Mediums.
Results: Spanish GP race results in full | Drivers' Standings | Constructors' Standings
When Esteban Ocon’s stricken Force India triggered a Virtual Safety Car period on lap 42 of 66 the German came into the pits for more Medium tyres, dropping from second to fourth.
Vettel remained within sight of third-placed Max Verstappen throughout the remainder of the race but was unable to find a way past.
It marked the third successive race in a row in which Vettel has failed to mount the podium, having started the year with back-to-back wins, and he now trails race winner Lewis Hamilton by 17 points in the standings.
“There was not an option to stay out,” said Vettel, who was only driver in the top eight not to employ a one-stop strategy.
“We were going through the tyres quicker than the others today so obviously it looks different and looks wrong but from the inside I think [pitting] was the right thing to do.”
Pirelli reduced the tread depth of its tyres by 0.4mm for the event due to fears over blistering at the circuit, a tactic it has also employed for this year’s Grands Prix in France and Britain.
When asked whether it had a negative impact on Ferrari, Vettel said: “Well, I mean, they [the tyres] changed for here.
“It’s hard to say how it would have been without the change but I think it probably impacted more for us than the others.
“But overall I think it’s been a decent weekend, we just need to understand, for tyres, what to do.
“We have these tyres again at Paul Ricard first and then Silverstone so we need to have a look.”
Vettel’s Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen retired due to a suspected engine issue.
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