YAS MARINA, Abu Dhabi -- Sebastian Vettel admits Ferrari "cannot be proud" of 2016, but says fans and pundits have not seen the strong way the team has responded to its frustrating year.
Ferrari looks likely to finish 2016 without a win to its name for the second time in three years. It came into 2016 with high hopes of a championship challenge but has dropped from second to third in the pecking order behind Red Bull.
Vettel admits there is little to be happy about from a performance stand-point.
"Overall I think the car is a very good step from last year and I think our performance was probably better than the results we have shown at times but the circumstances haven't always been the best," Vettel said. "Nevertheless, we can't be proud of this year because we came through the season wanting to fight for the championship and we did not so it is the target for next year, that is very clear. It is an enormous challenge for all of the teams including ourselves to get the cars ready for next year with so many changes but that is what we are here for."
Vettel is impressed with the attitude he has seen within the team and how Ferrari employees have reacted to adversity, which included parting ways with technical director James Allison mid-way through the season.
"I think the strongest point we have is the spirit inside the team. Very often this year we might have been criticised but we are working very hard, people are very committed here. I have said many times we wanted something more this year but for many reasons it didn't happen."