Vettel: 'I don't need to be a genius' to know F1 title chances

Sebastian Vettel has made no secret of the challenge he faces to turn the Formula 1 title race around in his favour after retiring from Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, falling 59 points behind Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in the process.

A crash in Singapore followed by reliability issues in Malaysia and Japan have left Vettel's hopes of a fifth F1 title in tatters, with Hamilton capable of clinching the crown at the next race in Austin.

Trailing by 59 points with only 100 left to play for, Vettel is under no illusions about the task ahead, but wants the Ferrari team members to focus on recovering after a tough run of races.

"Of course, I don’t need to be a genius or a mathematician," Vettel said when talking about the points gap.

"What we have to do now is like I said to the guys, let’s get back and get some rest as it has been a tough, tough weeks with a lot of changes and the mechanics are tired, the team is tired I think so it is good to get some rest.

"We know we have the package to go well in the last four races so that is what we will focus to do and the rest we will see."

When asked if he'd lost the title at Suzuka, Vettel said: "I don’t know. You get the calculator out and count the points at the end of the year to see how many you have then you look back.

"But for sure not finishing race doesn’t help."