Ferrari 'has the ingredients' to succeed again

  • Published on 21 Jan 2019 10:44
  • comments 3
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel believes that the team has what it takes to end its championship drought in 2019. The Scuderia outfit has battled Mercedes for the championship over the last two years but has come off second best each time.

This season, it shapes up differently as 21-year-old Charles Leclerc steps in alongside Vettel, replacing Kimi Raikkonen. Mattia Binotto will act as team principal after the Maranello squad ousted Maurizio Arrivabene following the 2018 season.

Ferrari has not won the constructors' championship since 2008, while Raikkonen is the last driver to take a drivers' title with Ferrari - one year beforehand. But Vettel is confident that the team "has got the ingredients" to get back to championship winning ways, admitting that “it’s down to us to do the job”.

“It’s difficult to say at this time of year,” he said at the Race of Champions in Mexico City. “Everybody’s still in the dark, we’re waiting for the cars to come and then get a feel and we’ll see in the first race.

“But looking forward, it’ll be a big challenge, what we want to achieve I think is clear. In terms of support I think here also there were a lot of Ferrari fans so we’re not lacking in terms of support.”

Vettel failed to make it past the group stages in the Champion of Champions tournament on Sunday, while compatriot Mick Schumacher was defeated in the knockout stages by eventual winner Benito Guerra. 

“It’s a long year ahead of us and maybe not the start I was looking for,” Vettel smiled. “It’s a fun event and I think we’ve had fun and it’s great to be here. At the end I think only one can win so I think all the rest of us, we are in a way disappointed. But that’s the name of the game.

“I think it was a fun competition, I would have liked to go a bit further, to drive a bit more, but sometimes it’s like this. Nevertheless it’s been a great day, a great two days with a great crowd coming today and good support. I think we all enjoyed it.”

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • yawn, no news here!

    • + 0
    • Jan 21 2019 - 10:46
  • blade

    Posts: 341

    Dull.

    • + 0
    • Jan 21 2019 - 14:17
  • Ferrari is that really prized master chef whom have access to all the world's best ingredients, and when he does his famous pasta it can be either really really good, or he messes up and put the sauce in the fryer and the friccadelli in the sink.

    • + 0
    • Jan 21 2019 - 19:58

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 21:49

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 21:49

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America
17 - May 19 2024
Italy
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco
7 - Jun 9 2024
Canada
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
19 - Apr 21 2024
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9 2024
21 - Jun 23 2024
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 1,480
  • Podiums 56
  • Grand Prix 161
  • Country DE
  • Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (37)
  • Place of b. Heppenheim, DE
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar