Breaking news
Formula 1
Ferrari still has "a lot to unleash" with 2018 car - Vettel
Sebastian Vettel has promised Ferrari has “a lot of potential to unleash” when the Formula 1 season resumes after the summer break.
Scott Mitchell
Published: Aug 3, 2018, 8:27 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The four-time world champion trails Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton by 24 points after last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, while Ferrari has a 10-point deficit in the constructors’ championship.
Ferrari has made strong progress with its car and engine as the season has developed and Vettel should be ahead in the championship but for his crash while leading last month’s German Grand Prix, which allowed Hamilton to steal an unlikely victory.
Both manufacturers will be introducing what should be their final engine upgrades of the season at either the Belgian or Italian GPs after the break.
Asked by Motorsport.com about the momentum in the title battle, Vettel said: “As we’ve seen this year the pendulum seems to swing once this side, once that side.
“If it’s like this, consistency is the key. I didn't do myself a favour [in Germany] but I think it’s part of racing, stuff happens.
“Compared to last year, we lost the championship I think because our car wasn’t quick enough to be a match in the final part of the season, despite what happened with the DNFs.
“This year has shown so far that our car is more efficient, our car is stronger and still has a lot of potential to unleash.
“I’m quite confident with what’s sitting in the pipeline that we can improve. It should be an exciting second part of the year.”
Last season Vettel’s victory in Hungary meant he headed into the summer break with a 14-point lead over Hamilton, but Ferrari’s challenge faltered.
Hamilton went on a three-race winning streak when the season resumed and took further victories in Japan and the United States.
By contrast, Vettel won just once more as a startline crash with teammate Kimi Raikkonen and reliability problem in Japan helped curtail his challenge.
Hamilton said the ups and downs experienced so far in 2018 countered any expectation the second half of the season would go like last year and he did “absolutely not” feel like he was beginning to take control of the title fight.
“It’s far too early,” he said. “I don’t believe there’s ever a moment that you’ve got your hands on the title or the trophy.
“We’ve got a long, long way still to go. A lot can happen but what’s really important is that we continue to keep up the pressure and keep working as we have done until now.
“There’s nothing we really need to alter. I think our work ethic has been very strong and the team morale is better than ever, the spirit is better than ever.
“We came to the last race, they kind of blew us away a little bit in qualifying, they would have done here had it been dry.
“I’m not really certain what to expect.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Norris says year away from McLaren is an option
Next article Haas renews interest in Fittipaldi F1 test
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Lewis Hamilton
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
More from
Ferrari
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
23 h
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
Fred Vasseur "not sure" if Red Bull is currently F1's best team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Fred Vasseur "not sure" if Red Bull is currently F1's best team
Latest news
Did Haas make the correct decision in signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Did Haas make the correct decision in signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027?
Frederik Vesti steps up to full-time role as Cadillac Racing details 2027 IMSA lineup
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 1 h
Frederik Vesti steps up to full-time role as Cadillac Racing details 2027 IMSA lineup
Rafael Camara to replace Esteban Ocon at Haas for F1 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Rafael Camara to replace Esteban Ocon at Haas for F1 2027
Cadillac signs Ricky Taylor, Antonio Felix da Costa in refreshed 2027 WEC line-up
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
2 h
Cadillac signs Ricky Taylor, Antonio Felix da Costa in refreshed 2027 WEC line-up
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe