Breaking news
Formula 1 Bahrain GP
Vettel: Sorting front end key to "surprising" Bahrain pole
Sebastian Vettel says an improved set-up to give him more confidence with the front end of his Ferrari was key to his "surprising" pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Apr 7, 2018, 8:52 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
With Vettel having admitted after the season opener in Australia that his team still needs to make big steps with its SF71H, rival Mercedes had come into the Sakhir weekend as favourite.
However, thanks to some key steps made to improve his feel of the car, Vettel says that getting on top of the balance helped things "come alive" to deliver an all Ferrari front row.
"We mostly tried to work on the set-up, and understanding the car," he said. "We tried different things, but obviously on a weekend you don't have much time.
"In Australia the first race, on a tricky track, it is improving a lot through the weekend, and it is very bumpy, so it is difficult to change too much and draw conclusions.
"But after the weekend, after the race distance, when you have so many laps. I had a very good understanding and feel, and we have been talking about it and looking into it.
"Overall I have been happier this weekend with how the car has been responding and how the front end is responding.
"You also see it in the result, but I think the good news is that we are a lot closer in all the conditions, if you look at all the sessions. That is the only difference – for the rest it is the same car as Australia."
He added: "I think it is surprising for us after Australia to be that competitive."
How they line up for the Bahrain GP...
Mercedes struggles
Although Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas missed a place on the front row by just two hundredths of a second, the Finn says that his team is a bit baffled about why Ferrari has had the edge this weekend.
"I agree we are not having the pace this weekend that we expected coming here, but we also didn't have anything new since Melbourne," said the Finn.
"It is a very different circuit, different tarmac, different temperatures, so for sure we need to understand completely why.
"We are struggling a little bit with overheating issues with the tyres, less so in the evening sessions, but still we have work to do.
"Like we have been saying all through the beginning of the season, we are not miles away. Ferrari this weekend so far has been a quicker car and that is where we are.
"We were better in Australia and we need to understand why we were not quickest today, but for sure we still have tomorrow to see how the pace is."
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 Verstappen says 150bhp power surge caused spin
Next article F1 overtaking talks fail to agree on 2019 changes
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel gives update on F1 future as he opens up on life after retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Sebastian Vettel gives update on F1 future as he opens up on life after retirement
Sebastian Vettel: F1 must combine “things we love” with sustainable future
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sebastian Vettel: F1 must combine “things we love” with sustainable future
More from
Ferrari
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
Latest news
FIA enforces new rule to close F1 cost cap loophole
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
39 min
FIA enforces new rule to close F1 cost cap loophole
Marc Marquez praises MotoGP title rival Jorge Martín: “He is an incredible talent”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP 48 min
Marc Marquez praises MotoGP title rival Jorge Martín: “He is an incredible talent”
McLaren held fresh talks after Singapore GP clash as Lando Norris promises to "make better decisions"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
McLaren held fresh talks after Singapore GP clash as Lando Norris promises to "make better decisions"
2026 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
4 h
2026 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
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