Vettel yet to find “silver bullet” to solve Ferrari F1 car struggles

Sebastian Vettel says he is yet to find a “silver bullet” to overcome his struggles with Ferrari’s 2020 Formula 1 car, despite an improved performance at the Spanish Grand Prix. 

The four-time world champion, who is leaving Ferrari at the end of the season after the team opted not to hand him a new deal, is currently enduring his worst start to a season in his 13-year F1 career.  

Vettel sits 11th in the championship having scored just 16 points from the opening six rounds of the season, with his best result of sixth place coming in Hungary. In contrast, Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc has recorded two podium finishes and is fourth in the drivers’ standings on 45 points. 

After missing out on points in the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone, Vettel returned to the points in Barcelona by pulling off a risky one-stopper to claim seventh. 

“I am not sure I understood everything but obviously in Silverstone we ran less wing than here because of the nature of the track or in Hungary,” Vettel said after the race. 

“I was struggling in Silverstone and I think in all fairness I was still struggling here. It’s still up and down. Some outings are really good, others or not and there’s still something to understand. Still some work ahead. 

“I think we have more ideas, we try a lot of things, trying to improve. So far it hasn’t been the silver bullet but I think we have to keep trying and then find our way.

“There’s certainly areas I need to work on, we need to work on trying to get the car in a better spot to then also try and be ahead of the pack rather than be in the middle of the pack.”