Former formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert believes Ferrari are the team to challenge Red Bull for race victories for the remainder of the season – but insists the championship race is all but over.

Sebastian Vettel picked up his 6^th race win of the season at Sunday’s European Grand Prix to set a new record having never finished a race outside of the top two in the first eight races of the season, leaving him 76 points clear of Jenson Button at the top of the drivers’ standings.

Ferrari were expected to challenge the Milton Keynes-based outfit for the championship this year but the famous Italian team endured a torrid start to the 2011 campaign, with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa picking up just 50 points between them in the first three races of the season.

McLaren meanwhile have had their title aspirations damaged after both Lewis Hamilton and McLaren team-mate Jenson Button lost ground to Ferrari and Red Bull in Valencia.

The British drivers are expected to struggle at their home race at Silverstone next month, with Hamilton conceding: “we’re just not quick enough to win there. I think we’ll really struggle.”

However while McLaren are seemingly falling backwards, Ferrari and Fernando Alonso have made huge strides forwards after their difficult start, with the Spaniard picking up three podium finishes in the last five races to move himself up into 5^th in the title race.

“The one guy who looks like he can take advantage is Alonso more than Lewis and McLaren because Ferrari have been more consistent to be perfectly honest.” – Johnny Herbert

Speaking exclusively to formula1fancast, the former Stewart and Jaguar driver believes that it is Alonso and not the likes of Hamilton or Button who is best placed to put Vettel under pressure.

“The one guy who looks like he can take advantage is Alonso more than Lewis and McLaren because Ferrari have been more consistent to be perfectly honest.” He said.

“If anybody is going to take it to Sebastian I think it is going to be Alonso because they (Ferrari) have upped their game.

“Perhaps not up to the same level as Red Bull, they have been beating everybody else and been very consistent, (but) Fernando is probably the most consistent guy (of the chasing pack)at the moment.” He added.

While Herbert, who competed in 165 Grands Prix and  won three in an 11 year formula 1 career, remains hopeful that the gap will narrow when the controversial blown diffusers are banned for the British Grand Prix, he admitted that the writing is on the wall for the rest of the grid after Vettel’s impeccable start to the season.

Red Bull’s main advantage is said come from the blown diffuser which receives hot exhaust gasses even when drivers are off-throttle to improve downforce under braking, and the crackdown on the devices is seen as the last hope the chasing pack have of catching Vettel.

Asked whether he thought the championship race was over, the 47-year-old said: I think at the moment he has gone yes. He has just been able to get results quite easily and consistently.

“The next rule change will be Silverstone where the blown floors have to be changed, there is a possibility that that could turn it around. I would be quite surprised if it really hurt them that badly but that is one other change that is going to come along and possibly make a difference.

“But he (Vettel) just has such a big advantage at the moment he just needs to be consistent.”

Keep checking back to formula1fancast for the best previews and coverage of the British Grand Prix next month, including more from our exclusive interview with Johnny Herbert, as well as the latest news. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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