Vettel says Ferrari will resolve reliability problems and insists they can still have a strong end to 2017 despite fast-fading title hopes
Friday 20 October 2017 08:55, UK
Sebastian Vettel has denied Ferrari have gone into 'panic mode' amid their unravelling world title challenge and insists they have the car to prolong the 2017 fight with Mercedes.
Ferrari's quest for a first Drivers' Championship in 10 years could be officially ended in Sunday's US GP if results go Lewis Hamilton's way, while Mercedes are likely to wrap up their fourth consecutive Constructors' Championship.
How Ferrari's title bid has imploded
Vettel's challenge appears to have suffered irreparable damage in the last month with 2017's long-time title leader dropping 56 points to Hamilton in the last three races with potential wins in Malaysia and Japan scuppered by unreliability.
However, despite the recent blows and speculation changes at the team could be afoot for 2018, Vettel insists they remain strong and focused.
"We are busy in general so I don't think actually there's time to panic," Vettel said in Austin on Thursday.
"Maurizio [Arrivabene] is doing a very good job in keeping everybody in the right line, looking forward. My role is to push as hard as possible on the track."
After engine problems meant he started at the back of the field in Malaysia, Vettel barely featured in the race at Suzuka due to a defective €59 sparkplug.
Vettel says there is always a reason for reliability failures and the team are now working to eradicate them for the future.
"There are reasons for the issues that we had. There's things that we must do better as a team, things that need to be managed and steered better from our side," he added.
"It's normal that you push the limits. Sometimes you push them too far, sometimes you do small mistakes that have a consequence later on. So it's a mix of those things, but things can break, It hurts a lot when it happens but things don't break for no reason.
"We need to find a solution for long term."
Provided Vettel's car is not struck by unreliability again in Austin, the likelihood is that the German will stay in mathematical title contention until at least next week's race in Mexico.
Nonetheless, with 59 points to make up and only 100 available, the chances of Vettel adding a fifth world title to his collection this year look increasingly remote.
He acknowledged the up-hill challenge on Thursday, but made clear he wasn't in the mood to throw in the towel yet.
"We are still in there. Obviously our chances are slimmer than they've been some races ago, but still I think there's a chance," said Vettel. "We are going for it and it would be completely wrong to drift off in your thoughts.
"We have a great car. We had the package to win the last couple of races, we didn't, but that doesn't mean we don't have the package to win the next races."
Vettel, the only driver other than Hamilton to win at the Circuit of the Americas, added: "In English maybe they say 'it's not over till the fat lady sings'.
"We need to make sure she shuts up for quite a while!"
Will Lewis Hamilton clinch his fourth world championship in Austin? Watch the US GP weekend live on Sky Sports F1, the race begins at 8pm on Sunday. Want to watch but not got Sky F1? Buy a NOW TV pass from £6.99!
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