- German GP - FP2
Vettel still banking on rain at Hockenheim
Despite an encouraging Friday Sebastian Vettel thinks Red Bull's only chance of genuinely challenging Mercedes at Hockenheim will be if the forecast rain becomes a reality on Sunday.
Red Bull looked to have returned to the position of second fastest behind Mercedes during FP1 and FP2 on Friday, with Daniel Ricciardo's super-soft run one tenth off Lewis Hamilton's benchmark in the latter. Despite renewed pace from Red Bull Vettel admits he still needs to keep one eye on the weather this weekend if he wants to record a second straight German Grand Prix victory.
"Hockenheim is certainly one I want to tick off the list," said Vettel, who won at the Nurburgring in 2013. "Maybe it rains on Sunday, that could help us. In dry conditions it could still be difficult to catch the Mercedes."
Vettel thinks Red Bull might have edged in front of Williams and Ferrari at Hockenheim but is refusing to write either team off.
"It looks like [Red Bull is second quickest]. Daniel had a better run on the new tyre, on the new supersoft, so I think we are a bit closer than previous weekends, but I think it will be close between us, Williams and Ferrari as well. It's not so easy to manage the tyres on the long run. I still think we have more to improve for tomorrow."
Vettel says the lack of FRIC has not hampered Red Bull but he is not willing to predict how much of an impact it is having on other teams.
"I don't think it makes a big different for us. It's maybe more relevant for other people but I need to go through the times. We will have to analyse and see if makes much of a difference."
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