Vettel and Ferrari look ahead

Don't look back. This could be the motto of Sebastian Vettel at the start of the first European Grand Prix of the season this weekend in Spain on the Catalan track of Barcelona.

Thanks to an SF70H to his advantage since the start of the championship in Australia, the German driver is at the top of the general classification after having scored two convincing victories in Australia and then in Bahrain.

A recent victorious past which must however be left behind according to the four-time world champion. “It was impossible to have a specific expectation coming into 2017 because everything was so new to all of us, explains the former pilot Red Bull.

Also, last year was a bit difficult, so we looked after ourselves and tried to build the best car possible and I think there's no doubt, looking at the results, that we have the right group of people on board to be able to develop the car needed to win races, which we have proven two out of four times.

All that matters is what you continue to do. It doesn't matter what you did anymore. I know we have the same people and I believe they will make the improvements we need to keep fighting. »

Mercedes remains the reference

If the Silver Arrows had a less flamboyant start to the season than since 2014, the W08s have obviously been extensively revised for the Spanish Grand Prix with the addition of several new aerodynamic features. According to Vettel, the Germans still remain the team to beat.

“We are obviously in a much better position this year than previous seasons, but it is still quite early, nuance Vettel. I think it will be an important race.

That's usually the time when teams start to make some improvements, but again, if you look at the last...ten years, it's no longer that fixed date where you bring in a new car. The best teams tend to make changes to almost every race.

Mercedes have obviously had a phenomenal time over the last two years and are still the team to beat. Not just in every race, but overall they have been the dominant team and it is difficult to break that but I think we are giving our best. »