Vettel: Gap to Mercedes bigger than expected

Sebastian Vettel has confessed that the performance gulf between Mercedes and Ferrari in qualifying was much bigger than he predicted pre-race but that the Scuderia do have what it takes to bridge the gap in the Grand Prix at Yas Marina tomorrow.

Vettel was impressive in the opening Free Practice on Friday morning and recorded the best time, but his performances in the next two practices and in qualifying were not to the same high standard.

The German finished third behind Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, and when probed for a reason for the half-second between him and the eventual winner, the Finn, he did not have an explanation.

"Yesterday and this morning I was quite confident that Lewis in particular was very quick, like in FP3, and [we] should get more in the direction of yesterday but it was more the other way around," Vettel said.

"Mercedes in general were very quick, Valtteri put in a mega lap so the gap was bigger than I expected.

"For tomorrow though I think the gap will shrink, I hope so anyway, then we will see what we can do. But for tonight we'd love to be closer."

Vettel admitted that Mercedes put in an excellent performance in qualifying, but was hopeful that Ferrari could make them work more for any success in the GP tomorrow.

"I think it was a good session but a bit of a shame to be that far back in qualifying so tomorrow we will see with race pace I think we can be a bit closer but they have been very, very strong."