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Vettel promises “maximum attack” in title race

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel says he will try to “make the impossible possible” for a fifth Formula 1 World Championship following his third win of the season in Singapore.

Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF15-T leads at the start of the race

Photo by: XPB Images

Podium: winner Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, second place Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing, third place Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
Post qualifying press conference: polesitter Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari and third place Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF15-T
Race winner Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF15-T
winner Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
Race winner Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari celebrates in parc ferme
Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF15-T

Vettel is 49 points behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton with six races remaining.

Hamilton registered his first retirement of the season in Singapore, but would likely have finished off the podium anyway before a throttle issue put him out.

Vettel beat Hamilton to eclipsing Ayrton Senna's tally of Grand Prix wins this weekend.

“If we have more weekends like this, then yes,” said Vettel when asked if the title was possible this year.

“All we have to do is look after ourselves, maximum attack, what they do is not in our hands. Maybe we still have a chance, and maybe we can make the impossible possible, and we will go for it.”

Allison relives “horrible” race

Ferrari’s technical chief James Allison said the race – which went to the full two-hour distance – was nerve-wracking on the pitwall, as two Safety Cars dictated pit strategy, and the Italian team had everything to lose.

“It was actually quite horrible,” said Allison. “Because it was all ours to throw away, right from the opening lap.

“With all those interruptions from Safety Cars it was more than a little tense. After the first one, Sebastian was slow and he didn’t say ‘I’m looking after the tyres’ but he clearly was. For a little while it was like ‘what’s going on? We’re not quick enough any more!’ It was actually quite hard.

“He opened up a gap every time when he needed to so he could stay on top of the race. But it didn’t feel particularly serene on the pitwall nonetheless."

Raikkonen “less comfy” than Vettel

Allison admitted that Vettel had the upper hand all weekend on teammate Raikkonen, and believed the Finn simply didn’t feel as content behind the wheel of his car.

“This track is about feeling comfortable in the car, and Kimi was just a little less comfy in the car,” added Allison. “We had one or two question marks if we were getting exactly the same aero performance out of the two cars.

"I think Kimi just felt he couldn’t really lean on it, and Sebastian had the opposite.”

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