Sebastian Vettel says Ferrari's Formula 1 rival Mercedes appear to be “in a league of their own” after dominatin♍g Friday practice 🐻ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. 

Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton set𝔉 the pace throughout both practice sessions in Melbourne and finished the day over eight tenths clear of fifth-placed Vettel, who had been as little as 0.038s behind the Mercedes driver in opening p🌟ractice. 

😼“I think they [Mercedes] looked really quick,” Vettel said. “I don’t know if it was just us struggli𒆙ng a bit, but as a matter of fact they were in a league of their own. 

“What was all that bullshit about with them being out of shape and so on? I didn’t under꧂stand that 🙈to be honest. So it was a bit of a surprise. 

“Maybe everyone else was struggling and th꧟en we can turn it around, but they l🦩ooked very strong and much stronger than they claimed before the weekend.”

Vettel put his lack of competitiveness in the afternoon down to a loss of confidence with the handling of his SF90, despite the positive early signs he reporꦡted during༒ pre-season testing. 

“It was a tricky day fꦫor us,” Vettel admitted. “I think for us we are not where we would like to be - not in terms of lap time but in terms of car feel and handling. 

"We didn’t really get into the groove and rhythm and that’s quite important around here𒈔.

“I had this more than once, but I can feel that I have the car under me that I had in testing but it is not doing the same thing here and there and that is why 🐻I am lacking confidence. 

"But we aಌre all here working flat out to try and to try and understand what happene🦹d in the session, the things that we tried and how they changed it.

“So I don’t🌟 think it was an awful session. I think here and there bits were good so it’s about how we go from there and the things we can build on.”

Asked if he was optimistic that Ferrari can close the gap to Mercedes in time for qualifying, Vettel replied: "It✤’s hard to put a number to it, but I’m optimistic because I know the car caꦡn do much better. 

“So if we can get that confidence and tꦉhat groove back, there is a lot of lap time in that arouಌnd here.

“[We were] not as fast as maybe we would like, but it’s Friday. I’m sure by December 1 nobody remembers what happen💃ed on March 15.”