Tyre issues caused Ferrari to stop Vettel again

  • Published on 13 May 2018 17:18
  • comments 1
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Sebastian Vettel has revealed that Ferrari was struggling with its tyres throughout the Spanish Grand Prix, which caused them to pit for a second time. Vettel made his first stop of the race on lap 17, ditching the softs and fitting on the medium compound.

However, a virtual safety car was deployed after Esteban Ocon pulled to the side of the circuit with an engine issue. Ferrari called Vettel into the pits, giving up track position to Valtteri Bottas. But a slow stop also meant that the Ferrari dropped behind Max Verstappen.

Vettel failed to get past the Red Bull driver, who was running with a damaged front wing. Despite claims that Ferrari threw away points through a botched strategy, Vettel says that the Maranello squad simply had no choice but to pit again.

"For us it was not an option to stay out," he said. "We were going through the tyres quicker than the others today. It looks different and it looks wrong, but from the inside I think it was the right thing to do.

"Overall we were a little bit quicker (than Verstappen) but as the laps went on, we just didn't have enough pace. He was doing more or less the same [lap times]. We were just not quick enough and even at the end I was not in a healthy shape with the tyres even though mine were the freshest.

"It's hard to say how it would have been without the [compound] change. I think it probably impacted more on us than the others. Overall it has been a decent weekend, we just need to understand for tyres what to do. I think we have the same ones for Paul Ricard and Silverstone so we need to have a look."

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • f1ski

    Posts: 726

    last season as ferrari tried to close the gap to mercedes it seemed they took downforce off the car. The car today seemed to lack grip and speed. perhaps they are dialing it back a bit
    to preserve the engine. We will see.

    • + 0
    • May 14 2018 - 04:10

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 2,638
  • Podiums 100
  • Grand Prix 188
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (26)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar