Following a disappointing qualifying session ahead of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen have pinned their result on the reduced tread tyres that Pirelli have brought to the first European round of this season.
Ahead of this weekend, Formula 1's sole tyre supplier, Pirelli, reduced the tread of its tyres by 0.4mm – a request that was made to the FIA after Spain's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya track was resurfaced ahead of this weekend's race.
In qualifying, Vettel secured third place, 0.132s adrift of Lewis Hamilton's pole time while Raikkonen managed fourth, with Ferrari locking out the second row of the grid which will be fronted by a Mercedes 1-2.
"Yeah I mean overall it was a smooth session," said Vettel post-qualifying. "Q1 was pretty good the car was fine, we didn’t have to do that much. Obviously we were quite OK this morning and we were trying to find the right direction but it was not straightforward in quali.
"Q3, the first run, I locked up a little bit into Turn 1 so the first sector was already slow and I tried to get back and recover, but to really fight for pole it was not enough and I didn’t get a great feeling on that tyre, on that set so I decided to ask to go back and I think it was the right call.
"We were very quick. I think overall the tyres this weekend are different. Obviously we had the change for everyone but I think they are a bit harder so for me it was pretty straightforward as I said because I was happier with the car with that tyre.
"If it’s within one tenth, tenth and a half you always think maybe but to be honest I was very happy with the lap until the end.
"We expected Mercedes to be very strong and so they were. Hats off to them and tomorrow I think it will be a close race, anything can happen really just like the last couple."
Raikkonen mirrored Vettel's comments regarding Pirelli's new tyres that are in use this weekend which also be used at the French and British Grand Prix later this season:
"The tyres have been a little bit changed, for whatever reason, so obviously they’re not the same as they were in the other races," said the Finn.
"Of course from winter it’s impossible to compare, but in this race we have slightly different rear tyres. Does it make it different? I don’t know. It is what it is, it wasn’t bad but I think we needed more laps.
"It was tricky, but once you get them to work they seem to be OK. But this is what we had today," he added.
Looking ahead to Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix which marks the fifth round on the 2018 calendar, Vettel highlighted that a good start will be crucial in order to gain positions although the 66 lap event should allow for Ferrari to continue to fight:
"Well good memories last year but that was first row. I think it’s the same as always. You need to have a good start to keep your position, you need to have a great start to make positions up," he said.
"Here, there’s a long run to Turn 1. P3 is not a bad place to be in. It’s not Russia, is it Valtteri [Bottas]? No? But it’s still a pretty long run, we will see.
"First focus on the start then we will see. It’s a long race after that. I think the tyres will be a challenge even if the start doesn’t go in our favour I think we have a strong car to keep fighting so we will see… I still have nightmares about Russia."
