VETTEL & FERRARI BACK ON TOP
S
ebastian Vettel has lived through a
number of false dawns at Ferrari but bright
sunshine bathed the team’s garage after
the German’s Australian Grand Prix.
The four-times world champion cruised to his
second win at Albert Park and 43rd overall with
a nearly 10-second gap over Mercedes runner-
up Lewis Hamilton, proving the Ferrari cars’
encouraging winter testing was not just a mirage.
A gloom has hovered over Maranello for a
number of seasons and it seemed at its most
thick last year as Vettel and Raikkonen failed
to win a race amid reports of disharmony in the
team garage.
But it was all bear-hugs and back-slapping at
Albert Park as Vettel crossed for the team’s first
win since his last victory at the Singapore Grand
Prix in 2015.
“We say this all the time, what this team has
done in the last six months has been really tough,
rough as well,” a beaming Vettel told reporters.
“Not easy to manage the whole team,
but I think the new car in general obviously is
fantastic and this is a great reward, a big relief
for everyone. There’s been a lot of ups and
downs, left and rights in the last 12 months. The
big difference was being able to deliver a really
good car. I saw the guys (in the garage), they
were smiling and singing, I’m sure we’ll see some
more of that.
“But... it’s just the beginning. Motivation has
been really high but obviously it helps to wave
from the podium.”
Vettel started second on the grid and had
a poor start to give Hamilton clear air but the
Mercedes driver pitted early to change tyres after
complaining of poor grip.