Sebastian Vettel: “Normal to take precautions”

For the moment, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne is being maintained according to the original schedule. But what will happen by Sunday? The question remains unanswered in view of the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic, which has a major impact on motorsport.

If many championships cancel or postpone events, the latest the WEC with the 1000 miles of Sebring after the travel ban imposed by the United States on Europeans, the F1 is holding its course for the moment.

To Sebastian Vettel, in the current situation, confidence is maintained in F1 and the local authorities, who authorized the discipline's caravan to undertake the trip to the Antipodes.

“My position on this is that it is very difficult at the moment to really categorize and say what is serious or not serious, but that is why you ultimately have to rely on and trust others, admits the four-time world champion.

We have all been here. Flights were not canceled, we were all allowed to travel, so we trusted those we traveled with. We are sitting in this room. You are in your own bubble and you try to control it as much as possible.

I think it's true for us sitting here on the couch, it's true for the people sitting across from us, and it's true for people outside and around the world. I think that'it's probably right to be careful and take precautions »

Vettel further believes that the F1 microcosm is also responsible enough to make all the necessary decisions if the situation worsens. “If it were to go that far, for sure you would pull the handbrake, comments the German.

I think we are a group of 20 pilots and I think we have come together over the last few years for various circumstances on various topics and I think we share a common opinion on big decisions and this I would describe as very big decision.

We would, I think, be mature enough to take care of ourselves and pull the handbrake in this case »

Engine issue doesn't worry Vettel

The other subject surrounding this time more specifically the Team Ferrari logically resurfaced at a press conference this Thursday. The Italian team is at the heart of the controversy over its engine block last year after the announcement of a confidential agreement with the FIA, who did not miss to arouse the anger of other structures.

A situation that Vettel observes from afar. “As far as I know, this has been clarified, recalls the ex-pilot Red Bull. Obviously, I trust my team to do the right things, within regulations, at all times.

I think we all have confidence, all the drivers, in the governing body that is the FIA, to do its job for all the teams on the grid. There isn't much else to add.

If you have any other detailed questions, I'm not the only one to answer them because I think cars are quite complex now, and I'm probably not the best person to give you enough information. »