Vettel: Ferrari have ‘all the ingredients’ to win a championship

Sebastian Vettel believes that Ferrari have ‘all the ingredients’ to end their 11-year wait for an F1 world title and has talked of the ‘positive feeling’ with inside the team, suggesting the current atmosphere has improved compared to previous seasons.

After describing his first day of testing last week as being “near to perfection”, the talk within the paddock since has been of a more relaxed Ferrari team with suggestions that the Italian team may have finally produced a car capable of ending Mercedes’ domination.

Vettel, who has come close to a title win in recent years but is yet to add to his four world drivers’ championship since joining Ferrari, says the team ‘knows what is needed’ this year to end that wait.

“We have all the ingredients, at some stages in previous years we maybe didn't put things 100% together but there’s always room for improvement,” said Vettel.

“I think we know what [we as a team] need, but it really matters when we find ourselves in that position again and that’s what we’re working towards. The first week’s been good, I would say that the feeling is positive, the atmosphere is good, the people are happy so I think we have something to build on.”

After being paired with Kimi Raikkonen for the past four years, Vettel has spoken positively of his working relationship with Ferrari newcomer Charles Leclerc and says the pair have talked a lot in their first weeks together as teammates.

“Yeah, we sit right opposite each other. We share the same the same car and we’re talking quite a lot about the car’s behaviour, his feedback, my feedback, we’re listening to each other and everybody surrounding the table is listening, so yeah I think [we have had] as many exchanges as you can have,” said Vettel.

“I’m asking him [for tips]. I don’t remember every question he’s asked but we’ve talked about the car, our feelings about the front end, the rear end, the feeling and so on. I think we’re asking a lot of questions [to the team], but from both sides, not just on his side. I’ve asked a lot of questions too.”

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