"This track was very good for us last year and we have improved the car," says three-time Singapore winner; Concedes Mercedes are still favourites
Monday 19 September 2016 14:28, UK
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel is confident of repeating his Singapore heroics this weekend and admits the night race offers a great opportunity to end a winless run.
The German is the most successful driver in the short history of the event with three victories, including one last year when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were off the pace, but both he and the Scuderia have yet to win since.
Mercedes are easing to a 2016 constructors' title but Red Bull and Ferrari are expected to offer a much fiercer challenge in the city-state, and Vettel is optimistic of some belated success having endured a frustrating season.
"This track was very good for us last year and we have improved the car so it should be reasonable for us again," the four-time world champion said.
"You have to put Mercedes favourites but they had a difficult time here last season. There's no guarantee that it happens again but if they do struggle, then everyone else will be happy to take advantage.
"Obviously we are aiming high. We might have a chance here, plus there's always random things that can happen. In the end I'm here to win, that's what I'll try to do this weekend. It might sound optimistic but you never know what happens."
Ferrari entered the season with hopes of challenging Mercedes, but are already out of contention having failed to secure victory from the first 14 races, encountering problems both on and off the track.
However, Vettel refuses to label the season a complete failure and believes a return to the top is on the horizon.
"Since last year some people have left and a lot of others have been shuffled around," he added. "When we started off last year it was clear where we wanted to go, we wanted to bring Ferrari back to the top.
"It's true we have not had a great season so far but it hasn't been as bad as some people think. We are critical of ourselves because we have not achieved what we set out to achieve.
"We were closing the gap last year but unfortunately that gap to the top is still there. We simply haven't been quick enough but are working on it? One hundred per cent. Am I confident we'll win races in the future? One hundred per cent."
