Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel says despite entering the unknown, he’ll push his new Formula One car to the limit at the Melbourne Grand Prix.

Vettel says he’s like all other F1 drivers: uncertain how the new F1 cars will react during Friday’s opening practice sessions at the Albert Park track.

Vettel and his Red Bull Racing teammate, Daniel Riccardio, enter the two practice sessions after experiencing difficulties in pre-season testing.

But the four-time world champion says the troubles won’t cause him to be tentative in Melbourne.

“I am really not trying not to just hold the ground,” Vettel said.

“I’m going out to push to the maximum and do the best I can, and then we’ll see where we are and we’ll see how far we get.

“The target for sure is to finish. And the target for sure is to finish in the best possible position, that is the mindset.

“And for the rest of the year, we’re a strong team and we have a lot of good people on board, we have strong resources, so I’m confident we should progress as the season goes on.”

Vettel and Riccardio expect Mercedes and their drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, to be the pacesetters at a season-opener marked by the introduction of new engines and designs of cars.

But Australian Riccardio said the championship was a marathon, not a sprint.

“The championship is a long way away,” Riccardio said.

“We’re going to need to develop so much throughout the year, all teams, with the new cars.”