It will be the little things that will make the difference at Monza, says Vettel
SEBASTIAN VETTEL is hopeful of making home hearts beat a little faster at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday as Ferrari attempt to end a Formula One drought in Monza dating to 2010.
But while Ferrari would love a victory for its own sake, Vettel knows that anything less than a win could see him lose top position in the world championship to Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.
“It will be little things which make the difference,” Vettel said. “That means attack, then we will see.”
Vettel leads Hamilton by seven points in the standings in what looks all but guaranteed to be a two-man fight for the title.
Ferrari have finally caught up with Mercedes, world champions the last three years, in terms of race pace but still lag in qualifying. Hamilton has seven poles this season to Vettel’s two, while adding in their teammates Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari have still been outscored 9-3.
“The crux is, like it was before, qualifying to really bring about upheaval,” Vettel said. “We know that, but we can see that we are thereabouts and getting closer and closer. We’ve done a very good job until now, but that’s not enough for us, of course we want to be ahead.”
Hamilton has also pointed to Mercedes’ qualifying advantage as key and he equalled Michael Schumacher’s record of 68 pole positions en route to winning last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
“We don’t yet have the car where we need it,” Hamilton said. “Obviously it’s great in qualifying, but it’s still a fight in the race.”
Vettel has signed a Ferrari contract Statistics for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza (round 13 of 20 races): Lap distance: 5.793km Total distance: 306.720km (53 laps) 2016 pole: Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes One minute 21.135 seconds 2016 winner: Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes Race lap record: Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 2004, 1:21.046 Start time: 1200 GMT (1400 local) WINS Triple world champion Hamilton has 58 career victories and extension to 2020 but in his third season with the team, he wants the world title. No more, no less.
The last Ferrari to top the podium at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza was Fernando Alonso back in 2010.
Despite winning at Spa, Mercedes head to Italy with caution rather than confidence the byword. In theory, their car should suit the circuit at Monza but that was true in Belgium for what turned out to be nail-bitingly narrow win.
“I’m a little careful mentally because we weren’t always the fastest recently,” Hamilton said. “I’m trying to figure out how I can manage to motivate my guys to bring a bit more magic to the next eight races so we can win.” is second in the all-time list behind Michael Schumacher (91). Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel has 46. Champions Mercedes have won 58 of 71 races since the introduction of the 1.6 litre V6 turbo hybrid power units in 2014, and seven of 12 this season. Ferrari have won 228 races since 1950, McLaren 182, Williams 114, Mercedes 71 and Red Bull 53. Former champions McLaren and Williams have not won since 2012. There have been four different winners this season so far Hamilton, Vettel, Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) and Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull).
Mercedes have been used to their own drivers fighting it out for the championship but, even with competition from Ferrari, Hamilton could be top of the pile on Sunday. Victory would put him ahead of Vettel on wins even if the German driver is second.
“Our job is to make pressure, get the car looking as good as possible and hit our full potential by the end of the season,” Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff said.
In Italy, Mercedes boast a recent record Ferrari can only envy. Nico Rosberg won in 2016, Hamilton in 2012 (with McLaren) then 2014 and 2015.
“Everything will be demanded from us to be at the top,” Wolff said.
Vettel and Ferrari will not see it differently. – dpa