Vettel ready to catch up
> Ferrari ace still has F1 title in his own hands at Japanese GP
SEBASTIAN VETTEL arriveed in Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix with a gearbox boost and the knowledge that he still has his Formula One title fate in his own hands.
Ferrari’s Vettel trails Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes by 34 points but will snatch a fifth career world title if he wins the remaining five races – by one point should Hamilton finish second each time.
However, the German and his Italian team appear to have run out of luck lately.
Vettel and teammate Kimi Raikkonen went out in a first-lap collision with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen three weeks ago in Singapore.
At the next race last Sunday in Malaysia, Vettel made a remarkable recovery to fourth after having to start last owing to an engine change.
Raikkonen could not race owing to engine problems after qualifying second.
Vettel recently lost the championship lead to the Briton Hamilton but is not ready to throw in the towel.
“I am still optimistic, because we know that we have a quick car,” he insisted in Malaysia.
Team principal Maurizio Arrivabene was also defiant, saying: “We have the car, the men, the drivers, the means and the spirit to fight all the way to the finish.”
The two-race setback was hard to swallow for the Scuderia because they were big favourites to win in Singapore and then also had better pace than Mercedes in Malaysia.
But there was at least a small positive when Ferrari said yesterday that Vettel’s gearbox had remained intact in a bizarre post-race collision with Lance Stroll in Malaysia.
A gearbox change would have complicated matters in the form of a fiveplace grid penalty in Suzuka.
Vettel has won four times on the 5.807kilometre course which is very popular among the drivers while Hamilton has three top spots.
But the Mercedes camp are aware that they got lucky twice lately owing to the Ferrari mishaps, and are rather concerned about a lack of race pace in Malaysia where Hamilton was beaten fair and square by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
“Recent weeks have reminded us that historic form counts for little with these 2017 cars and tyres,” Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff said.
“We expect a very close fight between ourselves, Ferrari and Red Bull.”
Looking at Hamilton, he added: “Lewis has made the most of every opportunity in recent weeks; he has been in fantastic form, particularly since the summer break, and is driving with a perfect balance of aggression right now.”
Hamilton has admitted he doesn’t believe Mercedes have the best car at present.
“These next races are going to be crucial in terms of ironing out some of the creases we have with the car,” he said.
Resurgent Red Bull could be a factor in the title duel as they appear to have finally matched their rivals in race pace, with Verstappen comfortably winning in Malaysia and teammate Daniel Ricciardo getting his eighth season podium in third place.
But Wolff also insists that despite their hiccups Mercedes remain the team to be beaten en route to a possible fourth straight drivers’ and constructors’ title.
“While we work to improve in those areas, we must not forget the many strengths we have shown this season,” he insisted.
“Our car has taken more pole positions and race wins than any other and we lead both championships – thanks both to the strength of our own performances and, in part, the misfortune of our rivals.
But every point counts, no matter how they come to us.” – dpa