Focused Vettel determined to navigate path through "rough sea" at Ferrari

Sebastian Vettel has vowed to navigate the "rough sea" he is currently enduring in arguably the most turbulent Formula 1 season of his career.

Following the opening five races of this year, Vettel has returned his worst haul of points - just 16 - since his first full campaign in 2008 while with Toro Rosso.

As far as his swansong with Ferrari goes, as the 33-year-old German heads into the final few months of his six-year stay with the Scuderia, Vettel could not have wished for a more wretched season.

"Obviously, at the moment it is not all plain sailing and calm, it’s a rather rough sea, but it is what it is," assessed a philosophical Vettel.

"I have to do the best I can, which is staying focused and waking up in the morning trying to do the best that I can and being fairly open-minded and trying to tackle it.

“There’s not much that I can do other than doing my job and working together with the guys around me and my car to make sure we get the best package together.”

Vettel's issues with Ferrari and this year's car are now well-documented, leading to a sense he has fallen out of love with F1, although he insists he still gets enjoyment from driving and that he is driven by the desire to win again.

"I do [re enjoying dribing], but naturally less if you are fighting at the back and you don’t have smooth races," added Vettel. "So I think that is quite natural.

"I am not here to lose. I am here to win and that is what I’ve been here for in the past and what I am still here for.

“So at the moment winning is a big ambition for us because we are not strong enough to get close, but let's say the most excitement you can still get by getting as close as possible to them [the leaders].”

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