Vettel, Hamilton feel media heat at Suzuka (Update)
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| Sebastian Vettel |
Arrivabene told Italian television over the Japanese Grand Prix weekend that there was no guarantee about Vettel earning a fresh contract for 2018, as he suggested the German also needed to not lose attention from his main job.
"Sebastian just needs to focus on the car," said Arrivabene. "He is a person who gives so much, and sometimes this means he is interested in a bit of everything – so sometimes you have to re-focus him, remind him to be focused on the main job."
Arrivabene's comments were interpreted by some as evidence of internal politics between the team boss and his driver, but Vettel made it clear that he felt things were totally fine.
"I don't know what he said so I don't want to interpret too much, but I enjoy a really good relationship with him," he said. "If there is something I don't like I tell him, and equally the other way around.
"I know there is nothing between us, nothing we need to sort out. Both our focus, his and mine, is we are trying to achieve the same thing. We are trying to win races, and get strong, especially in the future. And that is where the main focus goes."
Vettel admitted that the season had not delivered all that he and Arrivabene had hoped for, but reckoned that was not impacting on their relationship.
"Generally I enjoy a very, very straightforward relationship with him. As much as the team wants to perform, I want to perform," he said.
"I had races this year where I didn't do so and wasn't happy with myself because there was more on the table. But it has been an up and down year.
"In the end with the results we had they were not always fair and rewarding, considering the pace we showed on different weekends.
"Our main focus isn't looking too much at that. It is as a team to try to make progress until the end of this year.
"And we carry everything this year into next year, even though rules are changing. So a lot of things we learn about this year's car in general which will help us next year."
Progress
Vettel said he was encouraged that Ferrari had outqualified Red Bull around Suzuka, even though a three-place penalty he has got for a collision with Nico Rosberg in Malaysia will drop him behind them.
"It has been a track where people forecast we would be quite poor, but we had a very good day, the car felt good in qualifying and it has been very tight as well," he said.
"I think it is a combination of things. First of all the car feels a lot better than last year. I think it is a track where you need a stronger car to go faster.
"The gaps, also to the cars ahead, are a lot smaller compared to previous events. And the stuff we brought here seems to work so all in all pretty happy."
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| Many are calling for Arrivabene's head |
10/08/16 (GMM) Two top drivers were feeling the pressure at Suzuka on Saturday.
Sebastian Vettel was asked to respond to Maurizio Arrivabene's critical words in the Italian press, in which the Ferrari boss said the German's future at Ferrari is not secure.
"I don't know exactly what Maurizio said, but in general we have a really good relationship," Vettel insisted.
"As I always say, nothing is eaten as hot as it is cooked.
"If there is something I don't like I tell him, and it works the other way around. There is nothing between us that needs to be sorted out.
"Our shared goal is that we want to become stronger and win races," he added.
Also feeling the media's heat on Saturday was world champion Lewis Hamilton, who was clearly stung by British newspapers having slammed his behavior during the FIA press conference.
The Mercedes driver had been accused of disrespecting the media by playing with the 'Snapchat' phone app, so he hit back after qualifying.
At the Mercedes news conference, Hamilton said he would not be taking questions from the written press.
"I have decided I am not actually here to answer your questions," he said.
Confirming it is a response to the 'Snapchat' saga, Hamilton explained: "What was more disrespectful was what was then written worldwide.
"I don't really plan on sitting here many more times for these kind of things, so my apologies and I hope you guys enjoy the rest of your weekend," he said, before standing up and leaving.
Mercedes refused to comment.