Given the news of change in Formula One ownership over the past ten days or so, the Singapore Grand Prix paddock was always going to be a hotbed. Almost every driver has been asked his view on the future of this sport, and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel is no different.
“I would request them to install an air-conditioner (here at the media briefing spot) in this hot and humid weather,” he said, in jest, deflecting attention off the issue in his inimitable style.
“Personally speaking though, I would like to see twice the number of cylinders in the current engines, take away all the electronic stuff, and of course drive a winning car, the best on the grid.”
Over the last two decades, F1 has gradually transformed (downgraded rather!) from V12s, through V10s and V8s, to turbo-charged V6 engines. Vettel is a by-product of that ear-ringing era, and his first two wishes, however impractical financially, are understandable. It is the last one – for a winning car – that's most significant, for Singapore is the venue where he last won a race.
No podiums
Yes, a whole year has gone past since he stood on the top step of the podium. While he has endured this dry run previously – he was winless with Red Bull in 2014 – there is a stark difference here. With his previous team, it had happened after a run of four consecutive championships. Meanwhile Vettel’s move to Ferrari had been built up as the start of something new, both for him and the team that last won the drivers’ title in 2007.
It started off very well in 2015, with victories in Malaysia and Hungary, and then in Singapore. From there onward, the perception built that Ferrari were finally ready to launch an assault on the dual championships, and take the fight to Mercedes in 2016. That Vettel, as the fulcrum, was driving the whole team towards that ultimate goal, perhaps in a better way than Fernando Alonso had ever managed. Sadly, reality turned out to be quite different.
This season Vettel has been beset by problems, technical faults (Bahrain) and unforced errors (Russia and Austria). At other times, like in Azerbaijan and Germany, he questioned the team’s strategy call openly on radio, although he did apologise for it later. All of this has meant that he was trailing his teammate Kimi Raikkonen in the standings, until he bagged a podium ahead of the Finn in the Italian GP two weeks ago. Yet, the difference between the two is only 7 points.
“It’s true we have not had a great season so far but it hasn’t been as bad as some people think. We are critical of ourselves because we have not achieved what we set out to achieve. We were closing the gap to Mercedes last year, and unfortunately the gap to the top is still there. At some races the gap is small, at other races it is still quite big,” he said on Thursday.
Troubling season
While the target was obviously to challenge for the two titles, that mark has been missed by quite a margin. Instead, Ferrari are yet to win a single one out of 14 races this season, and indeed are now threatened by the prospect of a resurgent Red Bull. The Austrian outfit is now in second position in the constructors’ championship, with 290 points to Ferrari’s 279 points.
Finishing third would be a catastrophic result for the Scuderia, and yet, this is an eventuality they must prepare for. The second half of the season is lined up with circuits that suit aerodynamic strength, and this is Red Bull’s forte. What compounds matters is that Ferrari have lost key technical men, in particular James Allison, as they have once again restructured their outfit.
It allowed for some rumour-mongering in the summer that the four-time champion is feeling aloof, and could be looking at moving to Mercedes in 2018. It was hushed up with counter-rumours that Vettel was on the verge of signing on until 2020, although nothing official has come through.
“Since last year some people have left and a lot of others have been shuffled around,” said the German driver. “When we started off last year it was clear where we wanted to go, we wanted to bring Ferrari back to the top. Yes, some people left but there are some new people coming in. We have not had a great season but it has not been as bad as people make it out to be. We are working on closing the gap to the top.”
Singapore is the one race then where this said gap is negligible, even absent, as was the case last year. Mercedes, surprisingly, were so off the pace here at the Marina Bay circuit in 2015, that Ferrari and Red Bull pushed them off the podium altogether. That is not to say that Mercedes haven’t recovered from their problems, for they are too good a team not to find the requisite solutions within one calendar year.
Even so, the general perception (before the cars have started running here) is that the fight this weekend is between Red Bull and Ferrari. The question to ask: can the Scuderia afford to lose this tight scrap? Can Vettel pull back this downward curve and, for once, if only to stop the rumour mill about him leaving in 2018, showcase that he still believes in the Ferrari project for the long term?
“I don’t get out of bed thinking I will not win today. As a team, that’s what we are always thinking. Are we working on it? One hundred per cent! Are we confident of winning again in the future? One hundred per cent!” the four-time champion signed off.
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