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Vettel confused by British GP struggles: ‘Something doesn’t stack up’

Published on 03 Aug 2020 15:26
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By: Fergal Walsh

Sebastian Vettel was left confused following the British Grand Prix, as he struggled to keep up with his rivals behind the wheel of the problematic SF1000 car.

Ferrari has struggled since the opening round of the year, with Vettel being forced to settle for 10th place at Silverstone on Sunday, the same position he qualified.

Vettel was only promoted into the top ten following tyre puncture trouble for Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz, while his teammate Charle Leclerc drove to third place - his second podium finish of the season.

While Vettel accepts that the result was below par, the four-time world champion explained the car was challenging to manage throughout the 52 laps.

“The result was very poor, but the car was very difficult to drive,” Vettel said. “I struggled a lot to find my confidence, and I don’t know why, so we need to have a good look.

MORE: British Grand Prix driver ratings

“But certainly, if I struggled for so many laps in the race and it was the beginning until the end, there’s something that probably doesn’t stack up.

“It was not a very stressful race, I just didn’t have a chance. People around me were faster than me, I got overtaken. It was very difficult to manage myself, to stay on track.

“Physically, it was not a tough race at all because I could never attack the car, it didn’t allow me to do what I like. So now we need to have a look why and now obviously we have the next weekend so we can try and do better.”

Vettel denies that his set-up is behind the problem, admitting that both his and Leclerc's car are “pretty similar on paper”.

The German added: “If you look around the lap, there’s not one place where maybe I’m driving poorly or there seems to be an issue. It’s the whole lap where I’m losing time, so we’ll have a look.”

Vettel currently sits 13th in the drivers' standings with 10 points, with teammate Charles Leclerc in fifth place.

essaouira311

Posts: 158

My dear Seb, it's those preposterous Italians, who have found a new amore and don't give a sh*t for your settings.
Start counting down the days!

2
Aug 3 2020 - 16:55

F1 News Sebastian Vettel Ferrari

Replies (9)

essaouira311

Posts: 158
My dear Seb, it's those preposterous Italians, who have found a new amore and don't give a sh*t for your settings.
Start counting down the days!
- + 2
- Aug 3 2020 - 16:55
- mcbhargav
  
  Posts: 1,332
  It's a recurring theme in the paddock to ignore ( much less sabotage ) the outgoing driver. That being said, Seb is notorious for not having the best adaptable driving style. As much as I love to incite some conspiracy, I simply don't think Ferrari has enough conflict of interest and trust in Seb's abilities for organized sabotage. The man might struggle equally in his Aston Martin built for Stroll.
  + 1
  
  Aug 3 2020 - 19:43
Snooky

Posts: 121
Seb is too experienced to have a performance like this with a car that is fine, just had an awful weekend overall, barely got any practice in to refine the set up. Could maybe have copied Charles but different driving styles could have made it worse. Just seems weird they couldn’t fix a brake pedal issue multiple times. It’s not something they’d tend to randomly redesign a few races in without testing it can take the forces so just doesn’t sit right. Once I get it, quick out and fix it, but to happen a few times? Poor workmanship at best, at worst The team don’t care with all the AM rumours flying around
- + 2
- Aug 3 2020 - 20:13
- essaouira311
  
  Posts: 158
  This is it.
  + 1
  
  Aug 4 2020 - 08:28
f1ski

Posts: 726
Again not unlike his last year at RBR.
- + 0
- Aug 3 2020 - 21:51
- essaouira311
  
  Posts: 158
  I think that was completely different. He was satiated with championships and RBR. He only wanted to drive for SF -his long-term dream. But SF was not the team it used to be, when Jean Todt divinely managed the whole thing...
  + 1
  
  Aug 4 2020 - 08:28
Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172
It's a crappy car and a crappy team, so embrace the suck Seb.
- + 2
- Aug 4 2020 - 02:27
- essaouira311
  
  Posts: 158
  That's exactly what I' m saying.
  + 0
  
  Aug 4 2020 - 08:25
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
the fact that even alfa tauris and such could overtake him imply that either the car is a mess, or he was carrying an issue.
- + 1
- Aug 4 2020 - 09:14