F1 | Azerbaijan GP | Vettel "looking forward" to tomorrow's race from P9: "We're doing really well and extracting what there is in the car"
After a Q3 appearance in Monaco, Sebastian Vettel did it once again on the streets of Baku today.
For a second consecutive race weekend, Sebastian Vettel qualified an excellent P9 for tomorrow’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The four-time World Champion was a strong P6 in the first segment of qualifying. Despite gently hitting the barriers halfway Q2 with his front wing, he got through in 7th.
Vettel hits the barriers at Turn 15 💥
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 11, 2022
The German has reversed out and returned to the pits for repairs#AzerbaijanGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/OS8yai0Bka
In the final segment of qualifying, he finished P9, less than 0.4s off George Russell who ended up in P5.
“[I was] in the right place at the right time with the tow [in Q1],” Vettel told the media post-qualifying.
“Second session, I think we could just confirm what we did at the end of Q1.”
“It’s not like in the past where you can easily build up because you had so much car pace; we have to be flat out right from the beginning – and then at the end it’s sort of dull because you don’t improve that much because you’ve already maxed out.
“I think it was a good session.”
Since the launch of their controversial B-Spec car at the Spanish Grand Prix, Aston have looked stronger and closed the gap to the front of the midfield.
The car also seems to be suiting Vettel who is in fine form at present as they continue to learn about their new package.
“I think we’ve learned a lot since Barcelona with the new car.
“We didn’t have any [new] bits for here but I think we were able to squeeze out a little bit more, understand, tried a lot of things, taking risks in the sessions where it could go wrong… but fortunately it hasn’t so far.
“From an engineering point of view, we’re doing really well and extracting what there is in the car.”
Vettel is no stranger to a podium in Baku with Aston Martin. He finished P2 last year after starting the race from P11.
The 34-year-old is eagerly anticipating tomorrow’s race for two reasons.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow because here is a race where anything can happen – and I think we’re doing quite well here in terms of managing tyres, so I hope tomorrow is really hot.
“We’re racing at 3pm, so I hope we all struggle and we manage to struggle a bit less.”
