Vettel: Ferrari Still Chasing Mercedes Despite Early Win
Sebastian Vettel says Ferrari’s winter progress has closed the gap but catching Mercedes at the front of Formula One will take time.
Sebastian Vettel has acknowledged that Ferrari remains behind Mercedes in the Formula One pecking order, despite a strong start to the 2015 season that included victory in Malaysia. Speaking ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Vettel said it would take time for Ferrari to reach the reigning champions’ level.
“We are trying to bother Mercedes,” Vettel told Welt am Sonntag, “and we must be right behind them and pounce if something goes wrong with them. But it is also important that we are not passed by other teams.” He admitted Mercedes still has “the strongest package” and said, “You don’t make up such a deficit quickly.”
Ferrari’s improvement over the winter has been clear, with Vettel’s win in Sepang and Kimi Räikkönen’s close challenge in Bahrain. Even so, Vettel was realistic about the challenge ahead, saying it would take “a while” for Ferrari to match Mercedes’ pace consistently.
Upgrades for Barcelona
Ferrari is expected to introduce both engine and aerodynamic updates at the Spanish Grand Prix. Finnish broadcaster MTV3 reported that Räikkönen could receive a revised power unit for the Barcelona race, while the team will also bring a package of new aero parts.
MTV’s F1 analyst Ossi Oikarinen said he expects Ferrari to be even closer to Mercedes in Spain, thanks to these upgrades. The team’s effort to close the gap will be watched closely as the European leg of the season begins.
Title challenge still in doubt
While Ferrari’s progress has been praised, not everyone is convinced the team can mount a sustained title challenge this year. Former F1 driver Gerhard Berger told Auto Bild that, although Ferrari made a “giant step” over the winter, he doubts it is enough to challenge Mercedes for the championship. “For me, Mercedes’ lead still seems too big,” Berger said.
Vettel’s former Red Bull mentor Helmut Marko is more optimistic, suggesting Vettel is already in the hunt for the title given his close points tally with Mercedes drivers. After four rounds, Vettel sits just behind Rosberg in the standings, with Lewis Hamilton also in contention.
The next races will show whether Ferrari’s upgrades can turn promise into consistent results or if Mercedes will maintain its advantage as the season develops. For now, Vettel and Ferrari are focused on maximising every opportunity, ready to capitalise if Mercedes falters.
For more on how Mercedes responded to Ferrari’s early challenge, see /mercedes-still-strongest-despite-vettel-win-ferrari.
