Sebastian Vettel has given a realistic and honest breakdown of the major problems he will face in the formidable shape of Mercedes.
Ferrari’s new signing from the once all-conquering Red Bull team, where he was world champion in four successive seasons, has made a forecast of yet another Mercedes takeover, but without abandoning his own ambitions to reign as grand prix crown holder for a fifth spell.
The Italian legends, ineffective flops last year, will be heartened by Vettel’s fighting talk despite the commanding showing by the Mercedes pair, Lewis Hamilton, the champion, and Nico Rosberg, the runner-up, in pre-season tests.
And, I guess, he is voicing the anticipation of all of us involved at whatever level to F1 when he says: “Mercedes are way ahead of the pack. And it looks like a three-way fight behind them. It is my aim to be leading the chasers and giving Mercedes as much trouble and worry as I can.”
To do that he will need to be revitalised from his hapless 2014 showing in a Red Bull he found hard to come to terms with, but a car that his partner Daniel Ricciardo, three times a winner in stark contrast, mastered so expertly and significantly.
There has been no sign of a carry-over from his Red Bull despair and Ferrari, desperate to recapture long-lost glory, eagerly funded him to around £20m a year to get them, and him too, back on the right track.
His welcome at Maranello has been rapturous, as evidenced by his smiling countenance and eagerness to talk up Ferrari’s chances of a revival. Vettel is exactly where he wants to be. Only time will tell if he has made the right decision.
In the meantime he confesses: “Yes, Mercedes will again be the team to beat. We will only know for sure when the season gets underway, but it is clear Mercedes are in front by quite a way.”
He reckons, however, that he and Ferrari will be in the mix behind the Mercedes front runners, along with Williams and Red Bull in a hard-fought campaign.
“After that situation,” he adds. “There seems to be a bit of a gap where it is a lot closer with many teams.”
Who does he think will take the front three rows on the grid in the Australian opener on Sunday week? “The first two, unfortunately, is easy — Mercedes, unless they have some issues. Then I hope two Ferraris — and after that I don’t care.”
Champion Hamilton, yet to agree to a new improved contract and said to be holding out for a £150m three-year deal, stresses: “I’m out to win the title again, not just defend it. When you are in the number one team you become a target, but we will have the same approach as last season.
“We want to be winners again. Not just defenders. And we know the pressure on us will be the same as it was last year.”
Hamilton, a winner 11 times in 2014, with Mercedes clinching 16 of the 19 grands prix, added ominously: “I am as hungry now as when I started racing, but I won’t allow myself to get too excited or carried away.”
Vettel and all his gridmates have been warned.
— The writer is a freelance journalist and motorsport expert
