Sebastian Vettel says Ferrari “were not fast enough” followi💎ng Friday practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after being outperformed by both Mercedes and Red Bull.

The ♕Ferrari driver ended Friday’s combined practice times down in sixth place and despite just 0.333s splitting him from pace-setter Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes he was left underwhelmed by his car’♛s performance at the Yas Marian Circuit – a track Ferrari has never won at in a decade of the Abu Dhabi event.

Vettel fears tyre life will be a determining factor in opt꧙imum pace in Abu Dha🔯bi, which has been a regular feature in the 2018 Formula 1 season, and feels Red Bull are the ones to worry about given its eye-catching long run pace and minimal tyre degradation.

“I think it will be decided by the tyres,” Vettel said, having been heard over team radio complaining of tyre degradation in FP2. “Obviously Red Bull has been a bit strong in the races wh🐎en it comes to tyres but as I said I am not entirely ha♛ppy yet but in the evening it was better so let’s see.

“One lap we still have some margin and we 🍷should be okay tomorrow but for sure it is going to be tough and it is going🏅 to be tight.

“On the long run they didn’t last , but I was quite surprised on the short runꦯ that you could go again and have another attempt. That was something that we did not expect.

“It will be difficult and today we were notꦇ fast enough.”

Vettel will be bidding to end his seven-race winless run which stretches back to the Belgium Grand Prix. The German driver is a three-timeﷺ win in Abu D♛habi with all his victories claimed while at Red Bull (2009, 2010 and 2013).