Sebastian Vettel got on his knees and checked the underside of his Ferrari. A technical defect brutally slowed the four-time Formula 1 world champion in the second practice session for the next Grand Prix weekend in Silverstone. Shortly before the end of the session, the once again suspended 33-year-old had to park his crippling car early. Vettel finished the training day only in 14th place (+1.592 seconds) – and immediately looked for the cause after the technical knockout on the asphalt. He could see an oil leak.
World Champion Lewis Hamilton, however, could not be captured again. Less than a week after his spectacular Grand Prix victory on only three functioning tires, the Mercedes driver finished the first day of practice for the second England race with the fastest time. Only his team-mate Valtteri Bottas (+0.176 seconds) could follow the pace of the six-time world championship champion.
Hulkenberg very promising
Daniel Ricciardo in the Renault was already 0.815 seconds behind Hamilton (1: 25.606 minutes) in third place. Nico Hülkenberg raced to a promising sixth place in his next substitution for Sergio Perez, who tested positive for Corona. And Vettel? Even on the weekend when Formula 1 is reminiscent of its first Grand Prix 70 years ago at Silverstone, things will be very difficult again for the Hessian.
On his own, he cannot even compete for a place on the podium this season, but he trusts Hamilton to make a victory march. “Mercedes is in a great position this year. The car is good enough. Lewis is in good shape, ”said Vettel, who won the last nine Grand Prix of the year in his last world championship season in 2013.
For the Heppenheimer “probably the bigger question mark” is how many races will be held this season and not “who will win them”. 13 Grand Prix are currently confirmed for this year, at least 15 should be at the end of the season.
Hamilton did not owe praise to his former German World Cup rival. “He just doesn’t get the stage on which he can use his potential,” said the defending champion, who just managed to get across the finish line on Sunday after a flat tire, about the problems at Ferrari. “I really hope for him that he can go to Racing Point next year. You have a plan and a car with potential. He has the chance to lead the team. “
Vettel expects a decision on his possible Formula 1 future in the next few weeks. “I don’t see why I have to be pressured. In a way, I’ve made my decision, now it will show whether something sensible will come together or not, ”he said in an RTL interview.
Vettel’s Ferrari presence remains dreary. His car, baptized “Lucilla”, was “not the bearer, we are clearly behind the lead,” he admitted once more. For the second weekend in a row on the Silverstone power track, he hopes at least for a “better feeling for the car. The rest will come by itself. ”At the moment these are just setbacks – and mishaps.
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