Vettel admits Ferrari "need stronger pace"

Sebastian Vettel knows that his Ferrari needs to be quicker than it currently is if they are to fight for the championship this season.

Mercedes have finished first and second in every race so far and already have a 74 point lead over the Scuderia as they chase a fifth consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ championship double.

Vettel has obviously been disappointed with the pace of his car this season, and said: “We need stronger pace, simple as that. We need to be faster. I’m convinced we’ve been looking very strong but overall not strong enough.

“It seems that for us it’s more of a conscious effort to get the car in the right window, whereas maybe for them [Mercedes] it seems to click a little bit easier. Especially a place like around here [Baku City Circuit], you need the confidence in the car.

“I’m not yet there. I can feel that I’m not driving at my best because simply the car does not answer or does not respond the way I like. And then I think it’s unnatural.”