Championship leader Sebastian Vettel played coy on Thursday when tackled over suggestions that he is considering a switch from Ferrari to Mercedes next year.
The four-time champion avoided giving an answer after it was put to him that Italian sources had claimed he was already in talks with the champions.
Speaking at a scheduled news conference ahead of this weekendâs Spanish Grand Prix, Vettel said he was only concerned with leading Ferrariâs challenge this year.
“Is it coming from Italy?” he asked in response to one question. “I donât know… Maybe you asked the Italians?
“They seem to know more than I do. I think the situation is clear. My main focus is on this yearâŚ
“We find ourselves in a very good position and thatâs what we want to keep. Everything else is not that important.”
Vettel was in a laid-back mood, joking with home hero Fernando Alonso of McLaren who was sitting alongside him.
Asked about his prospects for success in this weekendâs contest, he was similarly cagey.
“I think we are in a much better position this year, than previous years, but itâs still fairly early.
“This will be an important race. People bring some bits, but if you look at the last 10 years, itâs not anymore a fixed date where you bring a new car. Top teams tend to bring stuff nearly every race.
“Mercedes have had a phenomenal run the past few years and theyâre still the ones to beat. If you look race by race, and overall, theyâve been dominant and itâs difficult to beat that, but weâre doing our best.â
After two wins in the opening four races, Vettel leads the championship ahead of three-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes by 13 points. – Agence France-Presse
