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Vettel's new 'Suzie' for Spain

LONDON, England - Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel will have a new chassis for the 2014 Spanish Formula 1 GP in a switch that could give the quadruple Drivers' champion a boost, even if the team said it was unrelated to his lack of form so far in the 2014 season.

Chief designer Rob Marshall posted on the team's website that the change, replacing the driver's tub, had been scheduled at the start of the 2014 season.

Daniel Ricciardo, who has out-qualified his team mate in three of the four races to date, is expected to have a new chassis some time in July.

'LOOKING FOR FEEL'

Marshall said: "Drivers don't always want to change them - they can get attached to a particular chassis and when they are on a good run they like to hang on to it for as long as possible."

Vettel has had quite the opposite, even allowing for problems with the new Renault V6 engine which has been out-performed by Mercedes.

With just one podium visit, Vettel is enduring his worst start to a season since he joined Red Bull in 2009 and he was asked to move aside for Ricciardo in the last two races.

The 26-year-old won the last nine races of 2013 on his way to a fourth title in a row.

Team principal Christian Horner said in April 2014 that the champion was very sensitive to the car's handling and how it entered curves and was still looking for "the feel that he needs from the car".

Vettel won in Spain in 2011 and was fourth there in 2013.

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 Spaninsh GP this weekend.
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