Sebastian Vettel goes into this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya not feeling any additional pressure despite not having the start of the season he was hoping for in 2016.
The Scuderia Ferrari driver has two retirements to his name in the opening four races, with a mechanical issue in Bahrain before the start and a first lap crash with Daniil Kvyat’s Red Bull eliminating the German in Russia last time out.
Vettel hopes the weekend in Spain is an improvement, and the German believes that, on paper at least, Ferrari could be in with a chance of a good result.
“We don’t feel any special pressure here in Spain,” said Vettel. “There are 21 races this year and pressure is the same wherever you go.
“It’s true that looking back, we could have done better if this or that hadn’t happened, but we can’t change it now. It’s also true that we’d like to be in a better position in the next couple of races, but for the meantime we have to focus on this one.
“On paper, it looks like it could be better for us than the previous one; but then again, we’re not racing on paper here, but on the track. I think there is a chance to have a good race, as there is a chance of making some mistakes. We came here prepared to give our best.
“Of course our President wants us to deliver, but we want the same and there’s no point now arguing too much on what has happened so far.”
Vettel revealed that Kvyat had made an effort to talk to him in the time since the two clashed twice during the Russian Grand Prix, and believes everything that happened is now firmly in the past.
“As far as Kvyat is concerned, he had the guts to call me after the race in Sochi,” revealed Vettel. “For me the case is closed.”
