“No need to be afraid,” insists Sebastian – but can they respond to Hamilton and Mercedes’ odds-defying title surge? Sebastian Vettel insists Ferrari have nothing to fear over 2018’s decisive final six races despite their title challenge faltering for the second year in a row. Vettel’s deficit to Lewis Hamilton now stands at 40 points with six grands prix to go after an unexpectedly sobering Singapore GP for Ferrari at which the German finished only third while his Mercedes rival won. Vettel has admitted Ferrari’s weekend was compromised by their own misjudgements – but believes that estimations of their supposed car advantage over Mercedes have been overstated in any case. “Lewis said he didn’t expect to come here gaining 10 points, we probably didn’t come here expecting to lose 10 points,” said Vettel. “But, having had the race that we had, I think there’s a full justification for losing those 10 points and we take it. Sebastian Vettel loses second place to Max Verstappen in the Singapore GP.
“Obviously, there is still a long way to go and a lot of points to score. I never believed that we had the fastest car by a big margin, as people said. I know that we have a very good car. “Overall I think the speed is there but I think it’s a match in qualifying as much as in the race.” The upcoming Russia-Japan double-header now takes on pivotal proportions for Vettel and Ferrari. “Russia, I think, has been getting better the last years for us, so it should suit our car as well,” predicted Vettel. “I don’t think we have any tracks to fear that are coming. “I think our car is working pretty much everywhere and that’s a strength of our car, so no need to be afraid of what’s coming.” While the pace and versatility of Ferrari’s car is not in doubt, the crucial championship mathematics are beginning to turn against the Scuderia as the season enters its final two months.
Vettel’s current deficit to Hamilton is 12 points more than this stage last year, when Ferrari’s challenge imploded, and while victory in all six grands prix between now and the end of the season would still be enough for the German, he has not won back-to-back races since the opening two rounds – and never three in a row since leaving Red Bull.
