F1 Australian GP: Ferrari podium must not be a one-off, says Vettel

After its worst season in two decades in 2014, Ferrari had an encouraging winter and then beat Williams to 'best of the rest' honours behind Mercedes as Vettel took third in Melbourne.

While delighted to start his Ferrari career on the podium, Vettel said the half-minute gap to winner Lewis Hamilton and the close challenge from Williams emphasised that this was just the first step required.

"If you look at the gap, for no one is it going to be easy [to catch Mercedes]," he said.

"We have to focus on ourselves and make sure what we have learned from this weekend we take into the next races.

"The most important thing is if we finish, we finish right behind Mercedes. We need to confirm that in the next race. That is priority number one.

"We need to make sure it was not a one-off.

"You have to be realistic, this weekend was in [Mercedes'] hands.

"It's a big gap. It could turn around a little bit for the next grand prix, we could be closer, but it could be even worse."

Vettel said the emotions of being a Ferrari F1 driver had come across ever more strongly through his first grand prix for the team.

"I have been secretly a fan, now officially I can be a fan," he said of his new employer.

"It was great already on parade lap. I think the Ferrari flags were there before but I didn't pay much attention obviously.

"It's an honour to sit in the red car. When your head is down and you try to push every single lap, you don't realise the colour so much but when the chequered flag came out it was a great feeling."