Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel says Mercedes consistent success in Formula 1 is “boring”.
The world champions have taken one-two finishes in the first four races of 2019 – after winning the past five drivers’ and constructors’ titles.
“Boring, isn’t it?” Vettel said. “So boring. It’s not just four races. It has been four years, more or less.”
But the German, 31, believes Ferrari have the potential to challenge Mercedes this year.
“[We have to] work harder, work better. We are pushing as hard as we can,” Vettel, who won four consecutive titles with Red Bull from 2010 to 2013, said.
“But you need to respect that they are doing phenomenally well and getting their cars most of the time in the right place.
“But I’m confident. I believe in this team and I know we can improve. I think we have a good car. We just haven’t manage yet to put it always where it belongs, so it is difficult to have the trust and the feel, but I am sure it is going to turn around.
Vettel said Ferrari were knew they had a quick car but were struggling to get the best out of it.
“It’s like a Rubik’s Cube,” he said. “We just need to solve it. We have a lot of people who can do the Rubik’s Cube in a couple of minutes. We have really clever people but we are working on a large-size Rubik’s Cube.”
Team boss Mattia Binotto added: “Obviously four races into the season, no win for Ferrari, four wins for Mercedes, no doubt they are very strong.
“Certainly they [Mercedes] have got a slightly better car, but I think that the gap is not so big and the points are not reflecting the true potential of the cars.”
Binotto pointed to the pace shown by Ferrari’s other driver Charles Leclerc, who dominated in Azerbaijan at the weekend until crashing in second qualifying on Saturday, as evidence of the team’s potential.
“With Charles, we [had] the potential for pole, and if you’ve got a car fast enough to score potentially the pole, you’ve got a good car overall,” he said.
