Vettel 'excited' to race check Ferrari upgrade package

Sebastian Vettel is impatient to test in racing conditions the upgrade package implemented on Ferrari's troubled SF1000 after last week's first lap wash out in Austria.

Vettel and Scuderia teammate Charles Leclerc tangled on the opening lap of the Styrian Grand Prix and beyond the self-inflicted wound destroying the pair's race, the blunder prevented the team from properly assessing the updates brought to its car to try and improve its pace.

Ferrari brought forward to the second round in Austria updates that were initially scheduled for this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

• Vettel admits to 'loose talks' with Racing Point

However, while Vettel felt the package improved the SF1000's balance, the German also made clear that the upgrades were not "a game changer".

"We know that the parts have worked," Vettel said. "We would have liked them to be obviously a game changer: it doesn't look at this stage, like that.

"But then again we have to confirm them in real race conditions. So, I think it will be interesting and we are excited about seeing where the car will be tomorrow and then especially in the race."

©Ferrari

Despite the twisty Hungaroring layout mitigating the relative weakness of Ferrari's power unit, Leclerc dismissed the Italian outfit fighting for a podium finish on merit.

"I think realistically we are struggling with the performance at the moment, so I don't think we can consider us fighting for podiums at the moment," he said.

"But we try to change that. And we are trying to work as hard as possible to change this.

"Hopefully the changes made on the balance will help us, but I doubt it will be a very different picture to the previous weekend. So I'm expecting that it will be a similar picture."

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