Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel enters the new Formula One season in the unusual position of being the outsider . This time , the Ferrari driver is doing the chasing - behind the Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg . Vettel used to be the man to beat , winning the title four years in a row with Red Bull . But Mercedes ended that dominance in crushing style last year and Vettel - who seemed isolated and despondent throughout the season - made the switch to Ferrari . 'The change felt right for me and it gives me a lot of joy , ' Vettel said . 'My ambition is to be right there at the top again , not only for me but also in terms of the team . In this respect , we should make a perfect fit . ' Sebastian Vettel enters the new Formula One season in the unusual position of being the outsider . The Ferrari driver is doing the chasing behind the Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg . The German also gets the chance to emulate his childhood idol , seven-time champion Michael Schumacher , who won the vast majority of his titles and his 91 GPs with Ferrari . The 27-year-old Vettel , who has 39 GP wins and 45 pole positions , clearly needed to get away from Red Bull . Vettel finished a dismal fifth in the drivers ' standings , with no wins and just four podium places . The gap between him and Hamilton was a mammoth 217 points . Worse still , he was usurped by his junior team-mate , Daniel Ricciardo , who finished third and won three races . The timing seemed just right for Ferrari , too , which needed a change following two seasons of tensions with Fernando Alonso . Pre-season testing has been like a fresh start . Vettel takes part in pre-season testing at Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya in his new car last month . Vettel joined Ferrari in the off-season after many successful years at Red Bull . Vettel drives behind Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg during testing in Catalonia earlier this month . ' I feel very well . The tests so far have contributed a lot to that feeling , ' Vettel said . 'Of course things take time , as growing into a team that works a bit differently requires that . ' The positive tone was set at the first testing session in Jerez , with Vettel and teammate Kimi Raikkonen claiming the fastest time on three of the four test days as Ferrari announced its comeback in style . Overall , a reinvigorated Vettel completed more than 600 laps over the three winter testing sessions and Ferrari showed glimpses that it can challenge Mercedes for speed . Over the 12 days of testing , Ferrari completed 1,182 laps - the fourth most mileage of any team - and the second most by power unit behind Mercedes . 'The path to the very top right now still leads via Mercedes and it is our aim not only to draw level with them but to surpass them , ' Vettel said . 'That is a very ambitious goal . ' Vettel struggled behind leading Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton ( left ) and Rosberg ( centre ) last season . The German seemed isolated and despondent throughout last season at Red Bull as he finished fifth .
Four-time champion Formula One will be doing the chasing this season . New Ferrari driver joined from Red Bull during the off season break . Vettel says the switch to his new team has given him ' a lot of joy ' German failed to win a single race last season after years of dominance . CLICK HERE for all the latest Sebastian Vettel news .