Sebastian Vettel claims it is too early to make predictions looking ahead to the 2016 Formula One campaign but is hopeful that Ferrari will “have a better year”.

The four-time F1 world drivers champion enjoyed a satisfactory 2015 with the Italian constructors as he denied the dominant Mercedes team a clean sweep by enjoying three race wins.

Vettel still finished 103 points behind champion Lewis Hamilton, but his performances showed a clear improvement for Ferrari because they failed to win a race the previous year and only managed six podium finishes.

Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne spoke earlier in the week to suggest the next step for the team will be to challenge Mercedes for both the constructors and drivers’ titles this time around, but Vettel has opted to take a more cautious approach.

Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are again expected to come out on top, although there is a hope that the titles can be prised away from the Silver Arrows at some point in the near future.

The German driver told Auto Bild: “Bringing the title back to Maranello has to be our goal. Winning with Ferrari is something special. That’s why now I also want to find out what it feels like to win a title with them.

“But there is still a team which is ahead of us, so it is too early making projections [for the 2016 Championship].”

Vettel is 4.33 to win the drivers championship for Ferrari in 2016, while his Scuderia team-mate Kimi Raikkonen can be backed at 41.00.