Vettel: Red Bull need to improve
Saturday 30th July 2011
Sebastian Vettel has called on Red Bull to raise their game amidst fears of another below-par weekend.
Although Friday practice times are never a true indicator as to what transpires for the remainder of the weekend, Vettel again did not seem entirely happy with proceedings.
It was the same in Germany a week ago when he qualified third and off the front row for the first time in 15 races, and then finished fourth and off the podium for the first time in 12.
At the tight, twisty Hungaroring circuit, and in conditions more suited to McLaren with Lewis Hamilton topping the timesheet, the reigning champion was only fifth quickest.
Finishing just over half a second down on Hamilton, Vettel said: "I felt a little bit better in the car, but it's not like last year."
That was reference to the fact Red Bull dominated the event, with Vettel on pole, although team-mate Mark Webber went on to win the race, with the 24-year-old German third.
Vettel added: "It seems very tight, with McLaren and Ferrari quick, so we need to raise our game if we want to be at the front."
Webber, who has finished third in the last four grands prix to trail Vettel by 77 points with nine races remaining, added to his woes with a crash in first practice.
The 34-year-old Australian hit a barrier before twice pirouetting through 360 degrees, losing the front nose of his car.
Explaining the shunt, Webber said: "It was my mistake. I ran across the kerb, which has been there for a few years, but drivers still don't learn. We just go out there and push.
"I clipped the Astroturf and hit the barrier, but fortunately it was only the nose that was damaged.
"We then recovered pretty well and got a lot of mileage in. The car ran well.
"But Ferrari and McLaren are certainly performing well, as they've done at the last few races.
"It's no big surprise that they are doing decent lap times, so it's going to be a race between all of us."
Hamilton certainly has back-to-back wins in his sights following his triumph in Germany six days ago.
The 26-year-old, 82 points adrift of Vettel, finished a quarter of a second up on Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, with McLaren team-mate Jenson Button third quickest.
"It's a great feeling to start on a high this weekend, and again not really expected," said Hamilton.
"The climate is working quite well for us. It is not as hot as it usually is here, and the car is feeling better again.
"It's still too early to say what is going to happen, but at least we are competitive, and I think we can race with the guys at the front.
"We'll be pushing as hard as we can, and of course winning back to back is our target."
Credit: ESPN STAR (www.espnstar.com)
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