Vettel "We need a stronger package" in 2019

More than wanting to reduce the mistakes, Sebastian Vettel insists it is more important for Ferarri to produce a faster car in 2019 in order to beat Mercedes.

In 2018, a number of mistakes in the second half of the season cost both parties plenty of points and ruined any real fight in the drivers and constructors championships.

"I think we need a stronger package, we certainly had some great moments this year with good races but we also had worse races," the Ferrari driver told France's F1 only.

"We were not fast enough, so I think that overall, it's the speed that decides and I think we miss a bit of speed. I also think that we are working very hard, the motivation is there to succeed in this crucial step [having a faster car]."

Vettel then looks at how well Mercedes and Hamilton work as a team. Following Vettel's title defeat, many former Formula 1 drivers expressed how Ferrari needed to protect their German driver more. Perhaps Vettel agrees with these comments...

"I think it's pointless to say that Lewis has had an incredible climb over the last five years, from the day he joined Formula One right up until now, to be honest. They [Mercedes] do good teamwork, and beating such a strong team is a difficult challenge, but that's our goal," Vettel concluded.