Next step up to title will be the hardest for Ferrari - Vettel

Sebastian Vettel has claimed that the next step in Ferrari's progress from underachievers in 2016 to championship contenders in 2017 to actually becoming champions in the upcoming campaign will be the hardest, as they attempt to topple the team monopoly of Mercedes in the rankings.

Ferrari are one of the most successful teams in the history of Formula One and are also the only team to have competed in every professional season of the sport.

However, recent campaigns have not brought huge success as they have not led a driver to a title in over a decade and have not won a constructor's title since 2008. Last season in 2017 saw big progression as they actually competed for the title for the majority of the campaign, and Vettel believes that next major step up to lifting the title will be the most difficult.

"Obviously the regulations stay roughly the same. I think we have a good and healthy platform to build on at the beginning of the year so I hope we can continue," he said.

"What we have to do is take that final step. If you look back it's always that final step that's the hardest.

"There's a lot of work going on already and for the last couple of months focusing on next year, trying to make the car faster, with more power into the power unit, and then we'll see where we are."

Vettel went on to admit that Ferrari did have a few moments of poor quality last year, but remained positive in regards to their chances for 2018.

"In the end as a driver you want to win, and obviously when you are competitive at the beginning you don't know if it will be enough to fight for the championship," the German continued.

"Usually it's a no-brainer: if the car is quick and you are doing your job well then as the season progress it will lead you to good news or bad news. For the most of it, I think it's been good news.

"There were a couple of weeks that were quite painful for us, but overall it's always great if you have a package that you can take to the fight."