The German has so far five wins to 10 by Hamilton

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel started the year with a bang. There were back-to-back wins in Australia and Bahrain. However, there was a dip following collision at China GP with Red Bull's Max Verstappen and another crash in Germany - the race which Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton clinched and repeated the act in Hungary, Italy, Singapore, Russia, Japan and Brazil to slam the door shut on Vettel's title hopes.

Vettel has so far five wins to 10 by Hamilton. Mercedes car has proven to be faster on straight lines and turns too, giving Hamilton the edge over Vettel in most of the races. But come 2019, the German wants Ferrari to offer a better product.

"We need a stronger package. We certainly have had our moments this year when we had strong races but we also had races which weren't very strong and weren't quick enough. So I think overall it's the speed that decides and I think more often than not I think we're lacking a little bit of speed. I think we're working very hard and I think the motivation is there to do that final step that is still outstanding."

However, there is unfinished business with Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Vettel and Hamilton are the most successful drivers at the circuit with three wins. Now Vettel is hoping to enter 2019 season with a consolidation victory in Abu Dhabi.

"Certainly after a season with highs but also with lows I think it would great to finish on a high."

Meanwhile, his teammate Kimi Raikkonen is off to Sauber and Charles Leclerc will be new man at Ferrari. And Vettel said both the drivers are poles apart.

"They're two different things. I tried to beat Kimi and he tried to beat me. I think it doesn't matter who you are racing in the team, you always try to win and that means you also beat whoever is driving with you in the same team, so I don't think that changes. Obviously Charles is different to Kimi so we will see how it goes but I think he's a good kid. Obviously the team knows him very well for a while now, since he's grown in the Ferrari Drivers Academy. I am happy for him and then we'll see how it works out."

When asked what Vettel will miss about Raikkonen next year, he just nailed it with his reply: "Silence."