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Vettel would take speed over reliability with new RB7

Sebastian Vettel put the first miles on the Red Bull RB7 on Tuesday © Sutton Images

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Sebastian Vettel would rather the new Red Bull RB7 is fast in its early testing than reliable, but is hoping it will be both.

Vettel took the title in 2010 but much of his early season was plagued by reliability issues. Last year's Red Bull was the fastest car in qualifying over the course of the season, but on several occasions Vettel failed to convert pole positions into wins.

"Of course it helps if you have the speed in the car and surely it helps if you've got the speed and the car is reliable," he said at the launch of the RB7. "[Having] both from the beginning is obviously the jackpot that everyone is aiming for, but personally I think that to make a fast car reliable is easier than making a reliable car fast."

He added: "I think winning the championship, no matter when or for who, never comes easily. We have a lot of races this year and a lot of things can possibly change throughout the season. So even if you start off with one of the quickest cars, you might be spending the second half of the season with a car that is not quick enough or the other way round. It's difficult to predict."

Vettel is also confident that his team has lost none of its momentum over the winter.

"I think for some reason, and it's important and good reasons, we have people on board that think in a very smart and clever way and build a very strong package, and it's not as if we fired all of these people at the end of last year," he said. "We still have those strong and important people on board and I am confident we will have a competitive package this year. Of course it is not always given that you will have a strong car, but like I said even if you start with a slight disadvantage it is a long season."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.