VETTEL MEANS BUSINESS
SEBASTIAN Vettel does a pretty good Crocodile Dundee impression.
As questions about the coming Grand Prix season rattled around the Albert Park pitlane, and drivers gave their tributes to race director Charlie Whiting after his shocking death on Wednesday night, the four-time world champion was able to inject a few smiles into the first day of the Australian Grand Prix.
When Daniel Ricciardo was asked about his off-season activities, Vettel joined the conversation with his take on Mick Dundee’s famous line about knives.
“That’s not a knife,” Vettel drawled.
Ricciardo laughed and gave some coaching to the German ace, but Vettel had another contribution that was off-topic on a GP weekend.
As Ricciardo paid tribute to Robert Kubica, who is making his Grand Prix comeback after a near fatal rally car crash that has left him with significant physical difficulties, it was Vettel who led a round of applause for the Williams driver.
But he also showed his serious side when he was asked whether he felt like a hunter or prey ahead of the 2019 championship battle.
“At this point I think we are all hunters, and all hunted. At this point we all have zero points,” he said. “Hopefully going away from here I will be in the position of the hunted. That’s the target.”
Vettel was the first-up winner at Albert Park a year ago but said he feels better prepared, in a quicker car, despite the scoreboard from 2018.
“Quite frankly … last year’s winter testing didn’t go well for us. Obviously we got a bit lucky with the race, with the Safety Car.
“We are more prepared, the car works fine. But having said that, we can’t do better than last year.”
There have been massive changes at Ferrari, with autocratic team boss Maurizio Arrivabene dumped in favour of the more conciliatory Mattia Binotto and young gun Charles Leclerc arriving as his new teammate.
But the real focus is the new car and the support for Vettel, whose championship challenge to Lewis Hamilton crumbled in the second half of last year’s championship.
Vettel seems more relaxed, more open, and more like the youngster who won four world championships with Red Bull.
“You’re a bit nervous. The spirit is right, the atmosphere is good, and we’re happy to start racing,” he said.