Vettel sure Mercedes 'will be alright' despite testing woes

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Sebastian Vettel is convinced Mercedes will bounce back from its pre-season testing woes and fight for top spoils along with Red Bull next week in Bahrain.

Mercedes' first day of testing at Sakhir was disrupted by various issues, including a gearbox problem that deprived the German outfit of significant mileage.

The Brackley squad subsequently made progress over the weekend, but Lewis Hamilton's fastest overall lap achieved on Sunday afternoon trailed the best time of pace-setter Max Verstappen by over a full second.

But Vettel doesn't believe Mercedes will kick off its 2021 campaign on the back foot next week.

"It's probably fair to say that Mercedes didn't have the mileage miracle that they had in the last years," said the Aston Martin driver whose AMR21 is powered by a Mercedes engine.

"But then again, I'm sure that they will be alright at the first race. And Red Bull are doing what they are supposed to do: challenging. So I think it will be either Mercedes or Red Bull."

Williams' George Russell, also powered by Mercedes, echoed Vettel's optimistic comments about the reigning world champion's prospects.

"I've not really looked at the guys at the top, but I've asked them how it's going," said Russell. "They are Mercedes. They are going to be fine. I am pretty confident on that."

Read also: Mercedes yet to show 'true potential' - Marko

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz also dismissed the negative talk about Mercedes' form, insisting it was early days still. But the Spaniard noted the strong performance by Red Bull last weekend and also by his former team, McLaren.

"I believe nothing about Mercedes or what I see from the other teams. It’s still too soon," he said.

"The Red Bull looks good, the McLaren I’m sure is going to be there, because the car, with its smaller engine, already allows you to improve the aerodynamics of the car and have more power, better and better.

"So McLaren is going to take a step forward. Alpine doesn’t look bad either, and now it is time to wait and see what Ferrari can do."

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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.