Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel: F1 can be "very cruel"

Accustomed to pole positions and podium finishes in his past four championship-winning seasons, Vettel's current campaign has been far from glamorous.

The German is yet to win in nine races, has not been on pole and has just two podium placings as he accrued 70 points - to be 95 points behind drivers' standings leader Nico Rosberg of Mercedes.

The Red Bull man conceded he was struggling this season, as he battled under the new F1 restrictions.

"It's been a tough start, a rough season so far," Vettel told BBC Sport.

"F1 can be fantastic, as I have experience of, but it can be very cruel in retiring from problems. You rely on your car. It is part of the game."

Despite being clearly inhibited by the rules brought in for the 2014 season, Vettel said he felt he was driving his way into the season as he pursues a fifth consecutive title.

"It hasn't come our way yet, but I'm confident it will," Vettel said.

"I'm struggling to understand the car so we are testing a lot of things. Some work, some don't.

"Some laps were good, other laps I was messing it up and it doesn't come as constant, as regular as it did in the past.

"We're working on that as a team. I'm confident it will still take a couple of steps but we're willing to take them."