With five races to go, Sebastian Vettel is not giving up on winning the 2010 world championship.
His teammate Mark Webber is 24 points further ahead and narrowly leading the drivers' standings over Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button.
Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko hinted recently that the team should sit down after Monza to assess its championship chances, amid light pressure from Webber to be appointed number 1.
But Vettel told Bild am Sonntag newspaper: "We are not panicking. We are quietly doing our work.
"I believe in the title -- that is the most important thing. It will be very close in the finale, but I'm optimistic," said the German.
He dismissed the argument that his 24 point deficit to Webber is insurmountable.
"Whether it's 24, 25 or 30, it doesn't matter," said Vettel, 23.
"The new points system worries people more than it should. Now there are 25 points for a win, so under the familiar (old) system, I'd only be 8 or 9 points behind.
"Then it would seem much less dramatic," he insisted.
Australian Webber, however, is open to having Vettel relegated to a supporting role for the final run to the 2010 finish-line.
"It would be a nice problem for me to have and then it's up to the team as to what's the best way for them to win the championships," he said in an interview with BBC Sport.
"It's definitely not for me to answer that one," said the 34-year-old.
McLaren's Hamilton, however - just 5 points behind Webber's lead and 17 in front of his teammate Jenson Button - is not expecting to be favoured by McLaren.
"The best driver will win the day," said the 2008 world champion.
Source: Motorsport.com
