Vettel plays down title talkposted in F126 | 03 | 2017
SEBASTIAN VETTEL WAS quick to play down his Formula 1 Championship hopes, despite taking a dominant victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. (Related: Vettel wins opening F1 Grand Prix of 2017)
The Ferrari driver, and four-time world champ, labelled his win a "positive surprise" and proves the hard work the team has put in over the winter following a barren 2016.
The win was Ferrari’s first since Singapore in 2015; the first time the Italian giant has won the first race of the season since Bahrain in 2010; and their first win in Australia since 2007 when Kimi Raikkonen won on his debut for Ferrari.
"I think for all of us this is a positive surprise," Vettel said. "We focused on what we had to do at the time. Obviously there's been a lot of up and down, left and right in the last 12 months but I think, especially in the last couple of months, things calmed down and we just tried to do our job.
"Obviously there's been a big reshuffle, but people are happy; happy to work, working with each other, so that's the key and in the end there's no shortcut. I think just focusing on ourselves, really, has been the big difference and the key to delivering a great car, which we obviously have. The speeds were alright, both on the straights and in the corners we are competitive, as I said I was able to stay with Lewis. (Related: Hamilton — "I couldn't overtake")
"Mercedes had the upper hand in qualifying yesterday, but I knew we had much better balance yesterday than on Friday, so I knew in the race anything can happen.
“It's the first race of the season. I'm surprised we didn't have a safety car, but anything can happen so I really wanted to stay in there and make it clear that we have the pace it was nice to see that we had, and to get the job done."
As for the championship, Vettel was quick to play down any talk of a title challenge.
"No, I'm not interested in that point to be honest," Vettel stated. "Obviously I was very fortunate so far in my racing career that I had some very good races and good years, but definitely after the first race is not the time to look at the table. We really have to go step-by-step.
"It's good to know we have a great car, but it's just the beginning. New regulations, new generation of cars so there will be a lot of progress.
“Mercedes have proven to be the ones to beat in the last couple of years more and more. We know they have a great engine, but they've had a great car the last couple of years and they made good steps forward so we're the ones who need to catch up.
"For today I'm just very happy and for sure whatever happens this year, the race today doesn't hurt.”
Related: Scot John McPhee reflects on Moto3 GP podium
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Jim McGill