Vettel remains calm in adversity

Beyond the long list of missteps committed by Sebastian Vettel over the past 12 months, the four-time world champion must manage the rise of the youngster Charles Leclerc within the Team. The 21-year-old Monegasque has just had two convincing successes at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, demonstrating not only brilliance but also the hint of authority which is the mark of the greats. 

Over the same period, Vettel was largely eclipsed in qualifying and finished just off the podium in Belgium, before making another mistake in the race in Italy a week later. Asked in Singapore whether he was going through the worst period of his career, the German calmly dismissed the questions. 

« I don't remember all the stages of my journey, replied Vettel. I've been riding for a while. I've had better but I've also had worse. 

I still love car racing just as much and I still arrive as motivated at Grand Prix weekends. I hope we will be able to end the year on a better note and prepare for 2020 in the best possible way. 

I don't compare seasons, I take them as they come and the current campaign isn't great but it's not a disaster. At any meeting, the highlight remains the Grand Prix and everything can change in a fraction of a second as we saw at Monza. 

I was the first to admit my mistake after the race. Unfortunately, it's part of the sport. It's not the level I want to be at but this kind of thing can happen to anyone. ». 

However, this has happened to him very often for more than a year... Vettel affirms that the problem does not come from his mind but from his feeling at the wheel, which is still not optimal after 14 races at the wheel of the SF90 in 2019.

« I don't think it's a psychological problem., swept the ex-star Red Bull. It's not like my mind is elsewhere. I do things correctly and I think you shouldn't complicate your life too much. 

Maybe I don't feel completely confident with the car here and there but I feel like my understanding of it car is improving. You then have to bring all the elements together. I am convinced that something will click and the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place. In the meantime, we must keep our heads on the handlebars ». 

Could the breakthrough come at Singapore, a city circuit where Vettel holds the record for wins tied with Hamilton and four successes (2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015)? After two tracks giving pride of place to engine power, Ferrari expects to suffer on the winding urban circuit of Marina Bay but the Scuderia has made several changes in order to improve its level of performance on circuits requiring more aerodynamic downforce .