Vettel: Time to see just how competitive we are

Much is expected of Sebastian Vettel after his high profile move to Ferrari in the wake of his seriously successful spell with Red Bull, and all indications ahead of the season opening Australian Grand Prix is that Ferrari have produced a handy car in the SF15-T but the German driver is playing down the hype.

Speaking ahead of the weekend in Melbourne, Vettel said, "Over the winter, we managed to complete the majority of the programme we had set ourselves. Now it’s time to take to the track in Australia and see just how competitive we are."

Vettel has won the Australian Grand Prix once, back in 2011 with Red Bull, and Albert Park is a track he enjoys, "The Melbourne track is very nice, but being made up of public roads it’s very difficult, because the surface is very bumpy and therefore very tricky."

"Because of the uneven surface, in Australia you need to opt for a softer configuration to the one you’d use at many other circuits, because you have to try and absorb the car’s jumps as much as possible."

"On top of that, it’s the first race of the season and it will be difficult for everyone to work out the perfect set-up and the best way to fine tune the car, because everything is still quite new."

"However, this is all part of the challenge. That’s why we go testing in the winter, so as to get to the track as well prepared as possible," added the four times F1 world champion.

After four years of carrying the number one plate, he will revert to number five on his car, the number he used when he won his first world title in 2010.

At Albert Park on Sunday he will be starting his will be starting 140th grand prix, and looking to add to his tally of 39 victories.