Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Sebastian Vettel eager to replicate his success at Marina Bay

SINGAPORE — The heat is on for Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel here at the Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, and the German is well aware that his record as the most successful driver on the Marina Bay Street Circuit — he won here in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015 — will mean added pressure to deliver this weekend.

SINGAPORE — The heat is on for Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel here at the Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, and the German is well aware that his record as the most successful driver on the Marina Bay Street Circuit — he won here in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015 — will mean added pressure to deliver this weekend.

The four-time world champion with Red Bull Racing (2010–2013) has not won a race since last year’s triumph in Singapore, with Ferrari unable to match the speed and pace of rivals Mercedes and Red Bull Racing this season.

If Vettel is feeling frustrated, the German driver — who posted six podium finishes in 2016 — is not showing it.

“When we started last year, it was clear where we wanted to go, we wanted Ferrari back at the top. It’s true that we haven’t had a great season, but it’s not an awful season,” he said. “We were closing the gap last year and obviously the gap to the top is still there. Why didn’t we win a lot of races — we haven’t been quick enough. Are we working on it? Hundred per cent. Do we have confidence that we will win races in the future? Hundred per cent.”

The twisty 23-turn Marina Bay circuit will also give Vettel a chance to score a rare victory against dominant Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, who are first and second in the driver’s championship with 250 and 248 points respectively.

The Silver Arrows had struggled on the circuit last year, with Hamilton retiring from the race due to an engine problem, while Rosberg finished fourth.

Vettel, fourth in the driver’s standings on 143 points, added: “The track was good for us last year, we improved the car from last year. All of the races this past year we didn’t win, so I’m looking forward to this and aiming to win.”

Vettel will also be watching his rear-view mirrors for former Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo and teenage upstart Max Verstappen. The Dutch teenager was handed a promotion from sister team Toro Rosso for the Spanish Grand Prix in May, and the 18-year-old proved his worth on the track, scoring his first title win with his new team. He is the only driver who has beaten Mercedes’ Hamilton and Rosberg this year.

“It is a very challenging track with a lot of corners and it’s very difficult to find the right lines … But it’s nice and I enjoy it,” he said. “I know we have a good chance to score good points. Hopefully we will score a 1-2.” LOW LIN FHOONG

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.