Red Bull have failed to close the gap

Sebastian Vettel does not believe that Red Bull Racing have closed the gap to Mercedes.

Many in the paddock believe that Red Bull had indeed closed the gap to Mercedes over the course of the season, particularly since Daniel Ricciardo’s string of podium finishes and maiden Grand Prix victory in Canada.

But the four-time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel has continued to struggle and overall has been dominated by his new Aussie team-mate.

?Right now the gap is very big and we haven?t really closed the gap since race one,?

?Obviously we have tried lots of stuff to improve, but they are doing the same thing. We are waiting for bigger steps to happen to close the gap even more which I think at the end of the season we can judge a lot better, then we know what we can do over the winter.? Vettel told Sky Sports.

The potential ban on the current suspension systems is apparently set to hit Mercedes harder than other teams.

According to a note published by Autosport Magazine FIA Formula One Race Director Charlie Whiting believes that all of the Formula One teams are currently breaking the regulations with the use of their Front-and-Rear Interconnected Suspension systems known as FRIC.

Whilst the FIA are open to a suspension of the ban for the remainder of the 2014 Formula One World Championship due to a lack of testing time ahead of Hockenheim, this would require a consensus among all the teams.

This appears unlikely as they will all analyse who has the most to lose from banning the current system and whether or not they themselves would gain an advantage on their rivals with the systems outlawed.

If the teams believe Mercedes will be hurt the most a ban is likely to come into affect.

?Obviously we know what we are running, we don?t know what they are running, but it is pretty clear what the FIA have said so some teams will probably be more affected, others less,? Vettel added.