Sebastian Vettel admits Mercedes ‘more at ease’ with their car than Ferrari ahead of F1 season opener

SEBASTIAN VETTEL reckons Mercedes might have the upper hand on Ferrari ahead of the new F1 season.

The German driver reckons the six-time reigning constructors' champions will be a tough team to beat when the 2020 campaign gets underway this weekend in Melbourne.

Vettel and Ferrari arrived Down Under for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix with high hopes of toppling Lewis Hamilton and Co.

But four-time world champion Vettel conceded that Mercedes looked "fairly quick" and comfortable during recent testing in Barcelona.

He said: "It just looks like Mercedes is more at ease. Not just for one lap which is what people look at but also in general the runs.

"There was some stuff with the Ferrari that was very good and other stuff that wasn’t good so it also has an impact on lap times.

“If you look at testing Mercedes are at the top because they are every time they go out fairly quick and with ease. While others need to stretch a bit more so we will see.”

Ferrari have come under intense scrutiny this off-season for last season's engine.

Seven teams threatened legal action against F1's governing body and demanded clarification on a confidential agreement between the FIA and Ferrari.

Ferrari finished a massive 235 points behind Mercedes in the standings last season, but Vettel is confident they'll be a lot closer in 2020.

He said: “We’ve worked very hard in the winter and our car is a step forward, currently it comes with more drag and we are aware and pushing as hard as we can to try to get rid of the drag and make it more efficient.

“But we also believe come race day it will give us an advantage the way it is set up now so we will see.

“It will be key to develop the car especially since it seems we are not the very fastest right now so we have some work to do but if that’s what it is, then that’s what it is.”