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Budapest - Sebastian Vettel said he was ready for a much-needed break from Formula One after he and Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc finished third and fourth in Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.
The four-time champion, who will be without a win for a full year when he returns to lead the Italian team at the Belgian Grand Prix next month, conceded that he and Ferrari could not live with the pace of Mercedes' victorious championship leader Lewis Hamilton and second-placed Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
"We couldn't go the pace with these two. That was clear and it's good now to get a break. Everyone has been working really hard and we need to recharge our batteries," he said.
"I’m happy to get some champagne now! We did a long first stint and hoped the softs (tyres) would last to the end - and they did."
Vettel, who is 94 points behind Hamilton despite a second straight podium, was unconvinced by suggestions that Ferrari would bounce back at the power-hungry Belgian and Italian Grands Prix.
“On paper, they look better for us and we know we have a margin with the car, but we don't know what other people will do in terms of upgrades," he said.
"It will be a busy break for us and nobody's mind will rest in the next few weeks."
His team-mate Charles Leclerc said he felt disappointed and had realised that the German was more efficient in tyre management on long stints.
"We pitted quite early on the first stint, mostly because I was struggling with tyres," said Leclerc.
"Then on the second stint towards the end, I was struggling with tyres again, at the rear. So, there is definitely something Seb is doing better than me in long runs when there is degradation.
"I need to understand where it is coming from and try to improve that."
Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix results on Sunday:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes-AMG) 1h 35min 03.796sec,
2. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) at 17.796sec,
3. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:01.433,
4. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:05.250,
5. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault) 1 lap,
6. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Red Bull-Honda) 1 lap,
7. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1 lap,
8. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes-AMG) 1 lap,
9. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) 1 lap,
10. Alexander Albon (THA/Toro Rosso-Honda) 1 lap,
11. Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) 1 lap,
12. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap,
13. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) 1 lap,
14. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) at 1 lap,
15. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso-Honda) 2 laps
16. George Russell (GBR/Williams) 2 laps
17. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) 2 laps
18. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 2 laps
19. Robert Kubica (POL/Williams) 3 laps
World championship standings:
Drivers
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 250 points
. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 188
3. Max Verstappen (NED) 181
4. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 156
5. Charles Leclerc (MON) 132
6. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 63
7. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 58
8. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 31
9. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) 27
10. Lando Norris (GBR) 24
11. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 22
12. Lance Stroll (CAN) 18
13. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 18
14. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) 17
15. Alexander Albon (THA) 16
16. Sergio Perez (MEX) 13
17. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 8
18. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) 1
19. Robert Kubica (POL) 1
Constructors
1. Mercedes-AMG 438 points
2. Ferrari 288
3. Red Bull-Honda 244
4. McLaren-Renault 82
5. Toro Rosso-Honda 43
6. Renault 39
7. Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari 32
8. Racing Point-Mercedes 31
9. Haas 26
10. Williams 1