Scuderia Ferrari German driver Sebastian Vettel’s interview for La Repubblica:
What will you take from Italy and the Italians?
Vettel: “The uniqueness of Ferrari. It is a piece of personal life that does not end.”
The technical department at Ferrari has been reorganized. Will it be enough to reverse the course?
Vettel: “I hope it has quick effects this year, otherwise I don’t care and it doesn’t concern me (he means it does not affect him anymore). Having said that I don’t think it is right for our chassis department to say that there is an error in our car. I think it is a solid car but not like the others, although I know that in Italy when you don’t win it is said that it’s all a mistake. The base of this car (SF1000) was set on that of 2017 which was very strong, but since then others have worked better. Mercedes has proved to be superior and everyone has been pushed to grow, the regulations have changed little. Not only this year but also in previous years we have never had the right package to fight Mercedes until the end. We suffer from an engine and our chassis doesn’t adapt to it. We are not as competitive on the straights as before and that is why we struggle not only against Mercedes or Red Bull, but also with the others.”
Do you regret anything?
Vettel: “I don’t regret the time I had at Ferrari. I’m very optimistic. I can’t wait for the future to come, even if I don’t know what it is. I don’t think there are many people who look back and don’t say they could have done better. I think you always learn. There are always little mistakes along the way, sometimes I made them, sometimes the team but this is not a game to blame each other. The expectation with Ferrari is always to win, but it’s not a matter of good luck or betting on the right things. F1 is a very competitive sport. It is a team effort, with highly qualified professionals and not just drivers, even if hopes lays on us. For the future they count on Charles, but I think that only time will give answers.”
Have you ever felt alone?
Vettel: “I think that here and there I may not have had the support I needed, desired or requested, but overall I think I have received it. I have had people close to me always ready to give me a hand both on the track and in Maranello. Today I think it is important to tell the truth to the fans and the truth is that we are going through a difficult time. We have seen it in the first three races and we will continue to see it in the next. To get out of these situations it takes time. Personally I have experienced similar situations in the past and perhaps for Charles it is different. What he is experiencing is perhaps the first step backwards.”
Ferrari president John Elkann said that when building a cycle it is more difficult to ask a champion to be patient and confirmed that Ferrari is struggling. Does the non-renewal connect to that?
Vettel: “I don’t think there is a connection! It was also the promise that Mr. Marchionne made to me, explaining that they were looking for someone to rebuild the team. I was the candidate back then, now no longer. I came to Ferrari after many years of success and the challenge was to rebuild. At that time we were certainly in a better position than now. I came here with a lot of passion, will and determination to make the team grow!”
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