Vettel: Ferrari has not lost control technically

Ferrari came back very strong from the summer break with a victory at Spa-Francorchamps and a pole position that it could (should?) have transformed into success at Monza a week later. There Team was once again favorite in Singapore on a circuit which had smiled on her in recent times but Sebastian Vettel saw his rival Lewis Hamilton et Mercedes increase their lead in the championship. 

The Briton and his team, who were less frightened by the team instructions than in Maranello, hit the nail on the head in Russia, where the scarlet cars appeared in clear decline, particularly in qualifying. 

Asked if the Scuderia had lost its way technically over the last few race weekends, Vettel replied in the negative.

« What do you know about our technical management? replied the four-time world champion at the FIA ​​press conference at Suzuka. We progressed with our car, according to a walking plan which was respected and produced the expected gains. You never know where you really stand compared to the competition. Perhaps they have taken a more significant step forward than we have. I do not know. 

What I know from my conversations with all the engineers is that we are where we want to be. Obviously, you would like to have more and more in terms of performance but it's the same refrain everywhere in the paddock ». 

The sequence of races in Russia then in Japan leaves Vettel realistic about his chances of reversing the trend in Sochi on a Japanese circuit where he has won four times in his career (2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013 with Red Bull)

« In less than a week, it's difficult to make many adjustments so we hope that the track will suit us better and that the outcome of the weekend will be more positive, added the 31-year-old pilot. We still managed to extract maximum performance from the car in Russia and we were closer in race pace. We'll see where we are in the hierarchy with the first free practices ». 

Vettel is 50 points behind Hamilton with five races to go, while Ferrari is 53 points behind Mercedes.