Sebastian Vettel eyeing podium finish in German Grand Prix

World champion Vettel has endured a frustrating Formula One season so far, as the Mercedes duo of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton have dominated.

Having won the title four years in a row, the 27-year-old has managed only two podium finishes in the 2014 campaign and is down in sixth place in the drivers' championship.

Vettel expects Red Bull to have to wait until next season to compete with Mercedes, but he is determined to secure a top-three finish in the German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring.

He said: "Obviously we hope for a smooth weekend without any problems, and to try and get the best out of myself and the car.

"It would be very special to finish on the podium there.

"Right now the gap is very big and we haven't really closed the gap since race one.

"It has been up and down this year. Obviously we have tried lots of stuff to improve, but they [Mercedes] 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."