Vettel Optimistic of Ferrari Title Despite Rough Start

An optimistic Sebastian Vettel insists there’s still a “long way to go” in the title race despite Ferrari’s failure to win a grand prix in 2016.

Vettel is third in the Drivers’ Championship following the European Grand Prix, 45 points behind leader Nico Rosberg, while his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen is fourth, a further 15 points back. In the Constructors’ Championship Ferrari are 81 points behind leaders Mercedes.

Vettel finished second in Baku, his fifth podium of the season, but so far the only team other than Mercedes to win a race this year have been Red Bull.

And speaking to Sky Sports in Italy, Vettel said: “We are not even in the middle of the season, there’s still a long way to go.

“I think we had a rough start, not ideal, but nevertheless we have found ourselves in a strong position. We know that this year’s car is a step up.

“Obviously we still have a long way to go but I’m a big believer and I know this team can do many things, great things.

“The way we have to tackle it is go step by step, not getting distracted too much by what people expect from the outside and what it might look like if you look at the points right now.

“All that matters is to look at the points table one time a year and that’s at the very end.”

The big talking point of the weekend in Azerbaijan was the problems that both Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton had with the lack of information they were able to receive over team radio.

Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene thinks the rules should be changed, to allow drivers to receive help from the pit wall when technical issues arise.

Meanwhile, Vettel has also been keeping an eye on Euro 2016: “I was hoping to see an Italy versus Germany final, even though that won’t be possible because of the way the table worked out.

“But I’ll be cheering for whichever of the two gets furthest.”