Vettel's Expectations Have Raised

Sebastian Vettel’s expectations of his 2018 Ferrari car have increased after winning the opening race of the season.

Vettel started from third with his Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen on the front row.

Vettel won the race with the help of a virtual safety car and a Mercedes computer glitch.

Despite this aid, Vettel still believes the car is good enough and will continue to grow: “I think the car has huge potential.

“I’m still struggling a little bit. If we compare to where we are still a bit weak, we also feel that the car is not yet there.

“When you’re talking about something that you miss in the car as a driver, the car doesn’t respond the way you like it, it’s like sliding in places you don’t want it to slide.

“I want the car to be spot on when I hit the breaks and turn in and in that window, I’m not yet happy, so it’s always sort of a compromise.

“Of course it’s our job to drive around the problems we have. But if I could choose, then I would like a little difference and yeah, it’s not a big drama. I think we can live with it. But I feel that when we get on top of that then you feel more confident.”

Vettel went on to admit his confidence in the car whilst driving around Melbourne wasn’t at its peak.

“On a track like (Melbourne) when you have confidence it makes a big difference.

“I think (Sunday) was quite windy, very gusty, so you always try to push but at the same time you need to be a bit safe, as you don’t want to throw it away and that’s exactly where it makes the difference.

“If you have the confidence and you trust the car, you don’t think for a second and you just go out and do it. Let’s hope we need to think less the next races.”