Sebastian Vettel

Lore & Background

In 2019, Sebastian Vettel drove the SF90, a car designed to meet new regulations featuring a simpler front wing and a higher rear wing. The team adopted a matte finish livery to save weight, and the chassis was led by designers including Mattia Binotto and Enrico Cardile, with Corrado Iotti overseeing the powertrain. Vettel named his car "Lina" in keeping with tradition. Early in the season, at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Vettel secured pole position alongside Leclerc, but a combination of driver errors and an engine problem for his teammate cost them potential victories. Later, at the Canadian Grand Prix, Vettel took pole and led Lewis Hamilton until lap 48, when he went off track and rejoined in front, resulting in a penalty that denied Ferrari their first win of the season despite an appeal.

In Their Own Story

The tension was palpable at the Canadian Grand Prix as Sebastian Vettel held off Lewis Hamilton in a fierce duel. Starting from pole position with superior straight-line speed, Vettel managed to stay ahead for most of the race. However, on lap 48, he went off the track and rejoined directly in front of Hamilton, an action that drew a penalty for rejoining dangerously. The FIA later upheld the penalty after Ferrari failed to supply enough new evidence, costing the team their first victory of the season. Earlier, at the German Grand Prix, Vettel faced mechanical issues in qualifying but fought through a rain-affected race from 20th on the grid to finish second, showcasing his resilience when the car struggled.

Reader's Guide

Sebastian Vettel's 2019 campaign with Ferrari saw him secure three podium finishes: second in Germany, third in Hungary and Singapore. He achieved two pole positions (Bahrain and Japan) and one race win at the Singapore Grand Prix, where he executed a 1-3 qualifying result with Leclerc before winning from pole. His season included dramatic moments like crashing out of Q3 in Azerbaijan but finishing fifth on track, and colliding with Max Verstappen at the British Grand Prix which dropped him to 16th while Leclerc took a podium. Vettel's performance highlighted both the car's potential on straights and its vulnerability in corners, often resulting in oversteer due to aerodynamic compromises.

Did You Know?

• Vettel named his SF90 car "Lina" in keeping with tradition.
• At the Canadian Grand Prix, Vettel was given a penalty on lap 48 for rejoining the track dangerously after going off, costing Ferrari their first win of the season.
• In 2019, Vettel started from 20th position at the German Grand Prix due to mechanical issues in qualifying but finished second in a rain-affected race.
• Vettel secured pole positions at the Bahrain and Japanese Grands Prix in 2019, setting a track record time in Japan.