Vettel: Ricciardo had all the answers all the time 

Sebastian Vettel believes Ferrari had the outright pace to claim victory in the Monaco Grand Prix but admitted race-winner Daniel Ricciardo “had the answers at all times”.

Vettel shadowed the Red Bull driver throughout in Monte Carlo but was unable to find a way past around Monaco’s tight streets as he was forced to settle for second place, despite Ricciardo losing 25 percent of his Formula 1 Renault engine that cost him around 2.5s per lap according to Red Bull. 

“I think we had the pace but it was a tricky race, I think Daniel had the answers at all times,” Vettel explained. “First stint I could follow him pretty easy but then he started to push just when Lewis started to pit. He was a bit stronger there and I couldn’t follow, I was going through the tyres pretty quick.

“Obviously I saw the issue and was told also by radio, so that’s why I started to push. But as soon as I got too close or closer, I struggled to stay there. Whenever I got in range, especially the exit of the tunnel, I was too far off to try and get close. 

“I had a couple of times DRS, but obviously the track makes it quite difficult, which is a bonus if you are ahead. With all the problems he had, he was still quicker than us.”

Vettel admits he was mystified by the amount of time he lost to Ricciardo as he struggled with tyre temperatures following a late Virtual Safety Car period, having dropped around five seconds to the Australian. 

“I don’t know why [it happened],” he said. “I had the McLaren which was just ahead in Safety Car line and after that on the restart I think it took me a while to get away. I was a bit surprised. 

“I had poor warm-up, my tyres was very old. I struggled for one lap, I also didn’t want to take a stupid risk. But I was surprised I lost so much time. 

“It was a bit of a shame as it would have been nice to finish the race behind Daniel and keep the pressure up, but it wasn’t to be.”