Sustained development at Ferrari key to securing title - Vettel

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For Ferrari to remain in contention for the world title this season - and hopefully win it - sustained technical development will be required by the Scuderia insists Sebastian Vettel.

The German driver prevailed last weekend at Silverstone, augmenting his narrow lead over Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers' standings by seven points, thanks in part to the Scuderia's latest evolutions which included in Britain a new floor and diffuser on its SF-71H.

The development pace among Formula 1's front-runners is relentless this year, and shows no signs of letting up as the season nears its half-way point.

For Vettel, who like Hamilton is targeting his fifth world championship, Ferrari's engineering department must continue to work overtime if the Italian outfit aspires to bring the title back to the House of Maranello at the end of the season.

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"I think we need to improve our car until the end of the year," he told Formula1.com.

"I think our car is very good. I think our car is working well on these [Silverstone] type of tracks.

"[But developing] will be key, because then you have something to fight [with]. And if you have something to fight [with], something to play with, then you can make it happen."

After the victorious British Grand Prix weekend, Scuderia boss Maurizio Arrivabene praised his crews for the quality of their work while setting their sights on the team's next challenge, Hockenheim, Vettel's home race.

"This was a well-deserved win, mainly down to a great job from the team at the track and back in Maranello and I congratulate them," Arrivabene said.

"The SF71-H confirmed its strengths as it has done on other tracks already, and the Pirelli tyres were a perfect match for our strategy.

"Tomorrow we will have our debrief and right from the afternoon we will start preparing for Sebastian's home race, the German GP."

Will Mercedes and Hamilton return the favour next week and vanquish the German on his home turf? You can bet that will give it their all…

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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.