Vettel loving life with revived Ferrari
MANAMA: On his way to winning Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel found his mind wandering already to next week’s first in-season Formula One test and how much he was looking forward to it.
The four-times world champion, now seven points clear of Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton after winning two of the first three races, is enjoying his best start to a season since his dominant 2011 Red Bull campaign.
That year he also won two of the first three and went on to take his second title.
The German, who did not start in Bahrain a year ago in a season that Ferrari completed without a win, is having the time of his life again and relishing the battle with Mercedes.
“The last half of the in-lap (after the finish) when all the fireworks were there and track was lit up, it was ‘I just love what I do’. I didn’t find any words,” he said.
“I’m really enjoying it, the car has been a pleasure.”
Last year was the first, and to date only, no-start of Vettel’s Formula One career, with the car breaking down on the formation lap at the desert circuit, but Sunday proved an evening to savour.
The groundwork for a title challenge laid last year is bearing fruit. Vettel won in Australia, finished second to Hamilton in China and was then first again in Bahrain -- a race he won with Red Bull in 2012 and 2013.
“Australia obviously was a massive boost for all the team and yeah, you can see when they are singing down there ( below the podium), and the whole factory has really come alive so that’s great and we need to just make sure we keep it going.
MANAMA: Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne said he and his team now feel “completely conf ident ” of mount ing a championship challenge following Sebastian Vettel’s victory in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
Marchionne believes Ferrari will now be “at the forefront of this world championship”, he said following the four-time champion’s well-judged drive to triumph.
“It i s, o f course, hugely satisfying to be back on the top step of the podium with Seb,” said Marchionne.
“More importantly, however, we are now completely confident that our victory in Melbourne (the season-opener) wasn’t just a one-off and that we will be at the forefront of this world championship until the last.
“We finally have a competitive car to count on and it is important to recognise the speed with which we implemented the developments demanded for each new race.
“All this is the fruit of super work at the track and in Maranello, so my compliments not just to Seb for his achievements in Bahrain, but also to the whole team.”
The president ’ s statement endorsed Ferrari’s optimism after a weekend that saw defending champions Mercedes under serious pressure for the first time in four years.
Vettel said his win was built on a crucial early move when he split the two Mercedes at the start of the race, moving from third on the grid to second.
It was Vettel’s second win of the season, his third in Bahrain and the 44th of his career.
“It was crucial for us to get between them and not to let them get in front and pull away and do their thing,” said Vettel.
“We all had more or less the same start and Lewis stuck with Valtteri ( Bottas) so I could take a risk under braking and get the move done.
“After a couple of laps, I was on Valtteri’s gearbox for the first stint and not falling back too much. It was a good start — our pace was key today to win.
“In the final stint we had quite a decent gap, plus the safety margin of Lewis’ penalty.”
Hamilton was handed a fivesecond penalty for a pit lane infringement which ultimately cost him dearly.
“I tried to control the gap — he was very fast when he came out, I expected him to be quicker but not that quick,” added Vettel.
“He was closing in and when I faced traffic I lost a lot of time, but when he faced it he lost time too.”
Headdedthathewasdisappointed with Ferrari’s showing i n qualifying, but delighted with the team recovery on Sunday.
“The factory has come alive and hopefully the success in the last few races helps us.” — AFP
It is, of course, hugely satisfying to be back on the top step of the podium with Seb. Sergio Marchionne, Ferrari president