SUZUKA, JAPAN // He may have been the dominant force in Singapore a week ago, but Sebastian Vettel is reticent to predict the same outcome in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.
The Ferrari driver led from start to finish at the Marina Bay Circuit after taking pole position by more than half a second to pick up his third victory of 2015.
Mercedes-GP have been the team to beat this season, but unlike his triumphs in Malaysia and Hungary, Vettel did not need mistakes from his rivals to capitalise.
The 28-year-old German is wary of fuelling expectations, though, and he said he believes that a return to normality could be in the works at Suzuka, with the long straights and fast, sweeping curves expected to suit the Mercedes W106 chassis, which surprisingly struggled on the tight confines of Singapore.
Vettel had been comfortably beaten by Lewis Hamilton in Belgium and Italy, the two races before Singapore, where the Mercedes' powerful engine unit came to the fore at both tracks, and the four-time world champion said he believed a repeat of those results is more likely at Suzuka.
“I think you have to remain realistic,” Vettel said ahead of Friday’s practice sessions.
“In a way, it was a big surprise to see Mercedes struggling, which I don’t expect to be the case here.
“Again, it would be a big surprise if it happened here. But if the chance is there we have to go for it.”
If Vettel was looking for a cause for optimism, he has only to examine his previous record at Suzuka, where in six races he has won four times and finished third on the other two occasions.
“Yeah, I love the track,” he said. “It’s one of the old-school circuits on the calendar. It is a lot of fun.
"If you want to know what a Formula One car can do, then the first sector, I would say, sums it up."
Hamilton, who failed to finish a grand prix for the first time this season in Singapore after suffering a loss of power mid-race, has a 41-point lead over teammate Nico Rosberg in the drivers' championship standings, with Vettel a further eight points behind.
Hamilton said he hoped last weekend was just a one-off following a period of success for the German marque that has included 26 victories in the past 32 races.
“What happened in Singapore, it was specific to Singapore so we should go back to normal,” he said.
Rosberg shared his teammate’s opinion.
“We are still the same team that has won so many races, still the same car, same drivers, so the confidence is there,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sergio Perez has confirmed he will remain with Force India for a third season.
The Mexican, who is ninth in the drivers’ standings with 39 points, will partner Nico Hulkenberg, who confirmed his own future with the team last month.
Perez said: “Since coming here I’ve really grown as a driver and I feel I’m performing at my best.
“I can feel the potential in the team, and there is a good energy, which gives me confidence for next year.”
gcaygill@thenational.ae
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