Engine mapping won't affect pace - Vettel

BUDAPEST, July 26, 2012 (AFP) - Although Red Bull have been forced to alter their engine mapping setup ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, defending two-time world champion Sebastian Vettel insisted Thursday the changes will not significantly affect the performance of his car.

Following the controversy at the German Grand Prix last weekend, the sport's governing body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA), on Thursday confirmed a clarification to the technical regulations over engine mapping, effectively closing a loophole in the rules that the British-based team have been exploiting.

Although that meant the team was forced to quickly make changes ahead of this Sunday's race in Budapest, Germany's defending drivers' champion Vettel insisted that the matter had been blown out of proportion.

"Obviously there is a lot of talk, and there was some talk Saturday night and Sunday which was not nice for us in terms of race preparation," he said.

"We only knew an hour before the race what was going to happen, but we took it and obviously it was good for us to start from the grid. It was also clear that probably it was not the last action to be taken.

"But, to be honest, I think there was more of a fuss in writing and talking, than in the mapping in the car."

However, the 25-year-old admitted he did not really know how much the changes would affect the handling and balance of his car.

"Obviously, if you look at the cars this year they are different to last year in terms of regulations, and the way you are forced to put your exhaust in a certain position," he said.

"If you look at what people tried to achieve it is similar to last year, so everyone tries to do his best. But it is not as if the car does not work now any more. I am quite confident that nothing will change.

"But obviously we had what we had in the car in Hockenheim because we believed it was quickest, so it is a little bit different for here. But it is hard to give you a figure: if it is two tenths, half a tenth, or nothing. We cannot measure."