Sebastian Vettel hits back over Lewis Hamilton speed concerns ahead of F1 season
SEBASTIAN VETTEL insists he is not worried by the impressive test pace of Mercedes and Red Bull in a defiant defence of his Ferrari.
Sebastian Vettel insists he can stay apace with Mercedes and Red Bull
Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas have produced strong results for Mercedes in pre-season testing.
Vettel’s Ferrari, meanwhile, appears alarmingly off the pace of both the Silver Arrows and Red Bull - especially during longer runs.
But four-time world champion Vettel is adamant Ferrari are poised to challenge for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles this season.
"Our competitors - Mercedes and Red Bull - used one type of tyre for their race distance simulations, which is something you can't do in a Grand Prix," Vettel said, hitting back at the concerns.
"This has an impact on the strategies and ultimately on the result."
Sebastian Vettel insists he is not worried about Ferrari's test times
Ferrari experienced a severe downturn in race results after the summer break last season, which saw hamilton move clear of Vettel in the Drivers’ Championship.
But the German insists improvements have been made to the car, which clocked the fastest one-lap speed in Barcelona testing.
"We did not experience any major issues with the car, and I had fun driving it," Sebastian Vettel said.
Ferrari are heading to Australia in preparation for the first Grand Prix of the season
Lewis Hamilton remains the favourite to win the F1 title in 2018
"I think we're starting from a good base with our SF71-H.
"Now we'll have to work on development to further explore and improve its potential.
“I have a lot of confidence in our team, I know how skilled and committed the guys in Maranello are."