Medium tires didn't help Vettel

With the elimination of both Mercedes from the first round in Barcelona, Sebastian Vettel et Ferrari had an opportunity to score a first victory in 2016. It was without counting on the Red Bull de Max Verstappen et Daniel Ricciardo, who thwarted the plans of the Italian team.

The German driver from Maranello did not see his strategy crowned with success, with more difficulties on medium tires than the drivers from the Milton Keynes team. “I know we are faster than the Red Bulls, I tried to get into the rhythm. I think in all honesty, we were faster than the Red Bulls on the softs, by about half a second, and on the mediums probably the same pace. I was coming back, but I wasn't really able to really put Max under pressure.

Generally, there was a difference on the medium tire which, today, did not help, and this was the compound we spent the majority of the race with. I had a little more oversteer, the challenge of controlling the rear axle, power management…”

The German also admitted that the final sector had been more difficult for the SF16-Hs, allowing Verstappen to maintain his lead over Räikkönen at the end of the race. Daniel Ricciardo's puncture at the very end of the race prevented the Australian from attempting a final attack on Vettel's Ferrari to gain third place.

Find the full report and analysis of the Spanish Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Barcelona, ​​in issue 2063 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.