'The real Vettel is back'

The "real" Sebastian Vettel returned for the closing races of 2018, despite losing out on drivers' championship glory, according to Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene as the Scuderia look ahead to taking the fight to Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton once again next season.

Vettel lost the lead of the championship to Hamilton as he slid out of his home race in Germany and the Mercedes man did not look back as he dominated the closing part of the campaign.

Ferrari also missed out on the constructors' championship as they were made to count the cost for spilling too many points as a result of errors on the track and pit wall.

Vettel's numerous spins while challenging rivals saw the German take a lot of flak, but Arrivabene says it is not just the driver who requires assessment.

"In the last few races we have seen that the real Vettel is back," Arrivabene is quoted as telling Sky Italia.

"Every human being goes through ups and downs and it's useless to point fingers at an individual.

"We all expected more from ourselves in 2018. You win and lose together. We made progress, but in the end we lost.

"We take second and third in the drivers' championship, but in Formula 1 only the winner counts.

"But second and third is better than fourth or fifth."

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