Vettel lacking confidence with the Red Bull
Sebastian Vettel admits he is struggling at the wheel of his Formula 1 car and still finds it hard to accept the direction the sport has taken with the V6 era. However, he knows that he will have a car with interesting potential in Barcelona, on a "chassis" track.
After a notable debut with the V6 engines before the Malaysian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel hasn’t really progressed. From his point of view, the current Formula 1 risks losing the sport’s essence. He also admits to lacking confidence.
« We are in a sport that is known to be loud and dangerous. Compared to last season, this impression has horrifically diminished. We run the risk of losing the essence of motorsport, » he warns in the German magazine Focus.
He would like a more aggressive car, which is also more powerful: « I would prefer a V10 or a V12 with 1000 horsepower, a lot of power. I want to drive cars that are as fast as they can be, I need to feel like I’m taming a dragon or a beast. »
The four-time world champion acknowledges that he currently doesn’t have full confidence with the Red Bull RB10: « The car doesn’t know what I want, in braking and in corners, I have a complete lack of confidence. » It should be noted that he will change chassis for the Spanish Grand Prix (from May 9 to 11).
Better in Spain?
The Grand Prix, precisely, may be the opportunity for the Red Bull team to aspire to more than minor placings, especially if they succeed in the qualifying rounds: « The Catalunya circuit is varied with 180° corners, fast turns, and changes in elevation. There aren’t many overtaking opportunities, so securing a good starting position in qualifying will be crucial, » he explains for Red Bull.
« The track is very challenging for the tires due to the very fast corners, so many pit stops are likely during the race. » Last year, the winner, Fernando Alonso, made four stops. Pirelli, for its part, assured that such a situation would not be repeated.
As explained by Rémi Taffin, head of Renault, the Circuit de Catalunya is a track that could intrinsically suit cars with a performant chassis, which is presumably the case for the RB10. Vettel is aware of this aspect: « The long, fast curves of Montmelo will suit a car with significant aerodynamic efficiency. »
