Vettel expects fight behind Mercedes

Sebastian Vettel says Ferrari is likely to be in a close fight to be the best team behind Mercedes at the start of this season.

Mercedes has shown itself to still have the quickest car during pre-season testing, although the margin of its advantage is still unknown. Vettel says he has been happy with the way Ferrari’s winter testing schedule has gone but is aware Mercedes will start the year as favourites.

“Largely it went according to plan,” Vettel said. “The last three days were very good, we did a lot of laps which is good for reliability but we still have to improve on that side. Performance-wise we know that Mercedes are the ones to beat but we have to go step-by-step and most of all look at ourselves.”

However, Vettel says he is still uncertain where Ferrari stacks up in relation to its rivals behind the Mercedes.

“It’s difficult to say now, it’s the first of March so in two weeks we will know a little bit more. I think it’s clear that Mercedes is in front. After that there seems to be a bit of a gap, I think it is much closer with many teams and difficult to say who is right behind.

“I think it’s probably very close between Williams, Red Bull and ourselves.

“The first two is easy; unless they have some issues it’s the two Mercedes unfortunately. Then hopefully two Ferraris and then I don’t care!”

The final day of testing as it happened