Vettel denies Ferrari have lost direction in Formula 1 title race

SUZUKA: We have a strong car, but I don’t think that we had a dominant car at any point this year. At too many races, we haven’t been close enough.

Sebastian Vettel has rejected the suggestion Ferrari have lost their way after being dealt a hammer blow by Lewis Hamilton in the Formula One title race. The German, who has watched Hamilton win five of the last six races, attempted to put a positive spin on a poor run of form following his third-place finish behind the two Mercedes in Russia last weekend.

“We haven’t lost direction,” a defiant Vettel said Thursday ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

“We have made progress — the steps that were planned were the steps that came. Maybe they have made bigger or smaller steps, but we are where we wanted to be,” added Vettel, who trails Hamilton by 50 points with five races left this season. “We have a strong car, but I don’t think that we had a dominant car at any point this year. At too many races, we haven’t been close enough.”

Vettel also went on the defensive when asked if this week’s Suzuka race was make-or-break in terms of his waning hopes of pipping Hamilton to a fifth world title. “I don’t like the now or never approach,” sniffed Vettel.

“I don’t think there’s much sense in that. I didn’t know it was five out of six,” he added, referring to Hamilton’s streak.

“Now I know, so the secret has been not to count. You attack every weekend -- every weekend is different, the track is different, the circumstances are different.

He added: “This is my favourite track in the world, so I’d better S VETTEL, on the Ferrari car

enjoy it and not spoil it by starting to count the things that are against me.”

HAMILTON STILL ‘SPLIT’ ABOUT ORDERED WIN

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton said Thursday he still had mixed feelings after being gift-wrapped a controversial win by Mercedes in Russia last weekend.

“I don’t think you get your mind around it,” said Hamilton.

“I am definitely split, just like all people have split opinions about it,” added the Briton. “But it’s happened, it’s done and dusted. You have to accept it and move forwards.”

The decision by Mercedes to allow Hamilton to claim his eighth win of the season sparked fresh debate over team orders in Formula One, with many fans of the sport taking to social media to vent their anger.

Vettel called the move a “no-brainer” after finishing third in Sochi but Hamilton’s 70th Formula One victory left Mercedes squirming with embarrassment.

After the race, Hamilton described it as “the strangest day” of his career and he was clearly still torn even in Japan.

SUZUKA: