Vettel: “Impossible to reach the pace of Lewis and Max”

His two victories in 2015 and 2017 must seem a long way away when he gets on the podium in Budapest. Third this Sunday, Sebastian Vettel couldn't do anything about Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) … just like the Team Ferrari.

With its two SF90s Charles Leclerc and the German driver totally alone during most of the race behind the infernal leading duo, the Italian team did not have much to hope for the final victory.

It remained to be seen whether Leclerc or Vettel would get on the podium. And the Scuderia's strategy in favor of the quadruple world champion proved to be the most effective with an additional stop to put on a set of new tires in the last part of the Grand Prix.

And thus have a chance of overtaking his Monegasque teammate, which Vettel did not fail to do. “We were 4th and we clearly had nothing to lose, recalls Vettel on the overall Grand Prix scenario.

We stayed on the track for a long time during the first stint, and we hoped that the soft tires would hold on until the end. But in the end, I think they were the fastest tires and we closed the gap (on Charles Leclerc).

We had an opportunity which I seized. I am delighted to enjoy a little champagne. We couldn't match the pace of Lewis and Max this weekend, that was clear. There's work. »

Scuderia Ferrari, like all the teams, will have to “shut up shop” during the summer break, but Vettel is already waiting for the Spa and Monza deadlines which could allow the Reds to return to the forefront.

“It’s good to have a bit of a break, the guys have been working really hard, underlines the German. We need to recharge the batteries a little and the battle will continue. There will be tracks that suit us much better.

I don't know what the others will do in terms of updates, Power Unit... We'll see. Spa and Monza seem to suit us. We know we have a little margin with the car. I don't think brains will be idle during the break. Maybe we'll come back with some good ideas. »

Discover the full report and analysis of the Hungarian Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Budapest, in AUTO issue 2228hebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.