No circuits to fear for Ferrari going forward, insists Vettel

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World championship leader Sebastian Vettel is confident that Ferrari will perform strongly at all the remaining venues of the 2017 season.

Just like Silverstone, Spa's high-speed nature evidently catered to the qualities of Mercedes' W08, as Lewis Hamilton's performance in both qualifying and in the race clearly demonstrated.

But Vettel's race pace in the Scuderia's SF70H wasn't far off, and the German was delighted with his speed.

"Overall the car was very good," he added.

"We didn't change too much compared to Silverstone, which shows on the one hand that Silverstone was just a bad weekend, but we improved also the car, especially in race pace.

"I mean we were, on average, a second off, or nearly a second off in Silverstone, so it's a big step. I'm very, very happy.

"I think we are on the right track and I don't think we have a circuit we should fear, going from now."

Wrong power mode helped Hamilton beat Vettel!

Vettel ultimately lost out on his decision to go for the ultrasoft compound in the eight-lap sprint which had been brought on by the Safety Car Period, as Hamilton fended off his rival's attack on the restart before moving out of reach.

"It's normal, as a racer you always look at what you could have done better," said Vettel.

"But you also need to appreciate the fact that it was a very, very good weekend for us, all the way.

"Both cars very quick, competitive and closer than I think one could expect before the race."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.