Vettel thinks "gaps are getting smaller" between top three teams

Vettel took his second pole position of the season last race weekend in Suzuka, but a terrible start from the four-time champion saw him drop down the grid quickly, although he recovered well to finish second behind race winner Valtteri Bottas. 

With four races left in the season, Mercedes have already sealed their sixth consecutive double championship, although the drivers' title has not been decided between Bottas and Lewis Hamilton.

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez always forms a challenge for each constructor as the high altitude significantly decreases air density and therefore downforce. Vettel is well aware of this as he looks ahead to this weekend's 18th race of the season.

"On the long straight, I think we see the fastest top speeds of the season, which makes it difficult  to manage the corners, because we’ve got so little downforce physically on the car," the 32-year-old said.

"The car is moving around a lot and it’s difficult to get the tyres to work, in fact it’s hard to get the whole car to work and to get the right feel from it. It’s a relatively short lap but not an easy one."

Max Verstappen has won the previous two editions of the Mexican Grand Prix, but with Red Bull's downforce package not being up to previous seasons' standards, the Dutchman is unlikely to make it three in a row. Vettel is aware of how close the top three teams are as we head into the final stages of the 2019 season.

"Over the past couple of years, we have been on an upward trend in Mexico, although Red Bull has been the team to beat. But I think the gaps between us are getting smaller, so let’s see how we get on this year.”