Vettel says Ferrari ‘not quick enough’

After starting 11th on the grid in wet conditions, Sebastian Vettel was the first man to switch to 'slick' tyres, but spun and struggled to make an impression as Lewis Hamilton scorched to his third successive home win.

Sebastian Vettel sits fifth in the drivers' championship after the British GP.

A disappointed Sebastian Vettel lamented Ferrari's lack of pace after finishing a distant ninth in Sunday's British Grand Prix.

After starting 11th on the grid in wet conditions, the four-time former champion was the first man to switch to 'slick' tyres, but spun and struggled to make an impression as Lewis Hamilton scorched to his third successive home win.

"Overall it was not our day," said the German. "Just not quick enough -- simple as that..."

Vettel's lacklustre showing saw him fall from third to fifth in the drivers' championship.

"I think the call to come in was right," said Vettel. "But then obviously I lost a lot of time when I spun. So, all the advantage was lost again and from then it was quite difficult to pass and move ahead."

In a topsy-turvy race, Vettel was also given a five seconds time penalty for a misjudged passing move on Felipe Massa of Williams that saw him force the Brazilian off the track.

"I don't think the penalty was necessary," he said, "It was not like I was purposely trying to squeeze him out, I was going out of the track myself, I just didn't have any grip."

His Ferrari team-mate Finn Kimi Raikkonen finished fifth.