If not now, it’s more a case of if and not when for Sebastian Vettel. Some fear it could be one of his final shots at a world title in 2019, with the impatient Ferrari team and a star in the making as a team mate, there is a widespread feeling that Vettel must make this one count.

The German has four titles from his Red Bull days, but has fallen short so far in his Ferrari career, despite having brilliant chances to topple Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes in 2017 and 2018.

Vettel told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “We certainly had our moments last year when we had strong races, but we also had races which weren’t very strong.

“I think overall it’s the speed that decides and I think more often than not we were lacking a little bit of speed.

“But we’re working very hard and the motivation is there to do that final step that is still missing.”

Vettel believes that Ferrari will give him a car capable of winning the title, and the rest is up to him.

He added: “It will be a great challenge. What we want to achieve I think is clear.

“The ingredients are there, now it’s up to us to do the job.”