Sebastian Vettel is confident Ferrari will withstand the challenge of Red Bull to remain Mercedes’ closest challengers in the Hungarian GP.
The third-placed Vettel, only outpaced in qualifying by the two Mercedes cars of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, will be joined on the second row by Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo for Sunday’s race. While Red Bull’s struggles this term have vindicated Vettel’s decision to leave, less than a tenth of a second separated the two former team-mates on Saturday afternoon with the RB11 an altogether more competitive proposition around the tight confines of a circuit where engine power – Red Bull’s ongoing weakness – can be kept under wraps.
"I think they have made a step closer to ultimately Mercedes," said Vettel. "It was fairly evident in Silverstone already, so it was expected here. But we managed to outqualify them which means we are quicker."
Meanwhile, Raikkonen is targeting a good start to the race after once again being out-qualified by Vettel in Budapest.
Two tenths and two places separated the pair in qualifying as the Finn fights a rearguard action to keep his seat for next season.
A decision on Ferrari’s 2015 line-up is expected to be taken over the summer break, leaving Raikkonen in desperate need of a good result before the sport breaks up for the holiday season.
“Not the ideal result but tomorrow I'm on the clean side of the grid, so I'll try to make a good start and go from there,” said Raikkonen. "Mercedes will be strong and if we cannot challenge them we’ll try to be second best."
The former world champion’s cause wasn’t helped by another downpour of bad luck. After his front wing fell off in mysterious circumstances during Friday practice, his car sprung a water leak at the end of Practice Three. “It didn’t help,” he concluded mournfully.