Vettel: "Seeing other teams copy Ferrari is a good sign"

Sebastian Vettel believes that it is a healthy sign that other teams are mirroring car parts that originated on the Ferrari. Ferrari has produced a potential championship winning car after years of being second or third best. From 2014 to 2016, Ferrari struggled massively, winning only three Grands Prix, all coming in 2015.

In light of the new aerodynamic regulations, the Italian outfit has sprung out of the gates and is taking a fight to Mercedes, who dominated the sport in the first three years of the hybrid era. Vettel, who leads the driver championship, has enjoyed the season so far.

"It's been rewarding for the team," Vettel said. "It's a fact to say in the last couple of years we didn't have the best car and a fact to say in the last few years we weren't the strongest at developing the car, but I think if you look at the progression this year it is a different story and we keep progressing.

"We brought a lot of bits, we have seen a lot of bits from other people copying us, but that's a good sign and a testimony to the hard and good work and the achievement that has gone into this car and this project. We will keep pushing flat out."

Despite Vettel holding a lead in the championship, Ferrari had a dip in form after the Monaco Grand Prix and watched Mercedes win three of the following four races (Red Bull came out on top in Azerbaijan). The German said the team understands where its weaknesses lie and he hopes they can be addressed in the second half of the season.

"I think we know what the car needs. It's normal that from track to track there's a bit of a difference. Also for drivers, some tracks we like more than others and it's the same for the car. You have to look not only at yourself but also the other people and the rest of the field, it's normal that it's up and down.

"But that's not our target, it's not an excuse, we want to be quickest at every place we go which is currently not the case, but we're working on it. We have quite a good understanding of what the car needs and now we have some time to look into a couple of things with peace and calm but obviously it's not that easy to turn things around overnight but what's important is that we know what we need."

Fergal Walsh