Vettel backs Ferrari to close the gap on Mercedes

sebastianvettel - Cropped

Sebastian Vettel is confident that Ferrari can close the gap on Mercedes at the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.

The four-time world champion won a Formula One race for the first time since the November 2013 when he triumphed in Malaysia last month.

However, normal service resumed when world champion Lewis Hamilton led a Mercedes one-two at the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend.

Vettel, who won back-to-back races at Bahrain in 2012 and 2013 ahead of now team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, admits Mercedes have the best car in F1, but has backed Ferrari to maintain the pressure.

"The most important [thing] is we make sure we are right behind Mercedes and ideally a little bit closer every time," he told reporters.

"It would be nice for both of us [Vettel and Raikkonen], it doesn't matter who is in front. Obviously I'd like to stay in front, I managed in 2012 and 2013 to stay ahead of him and it would be nice to be in the same position.

"But to be realistic, Mercedes have the strongest package and both drivers are doing a good job. So it makes them difficult to beat but hopefully we can be a little bit closer here compared to last week."

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