Starting second might be an advantage – Vettel

2014 Malaysian Grand Prix

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Sebastian Vettel narrowly missed out on pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix but feels he could benefit from starting on the left-hand side of the grid.

“At the end of the day it’s good to be in the front row,” he said after falling short of pole position by 55 thousandths of a second.

“I think, if I’m not wrong, it should be the good side for tomorrow. Depends on how good the start is but for sure very happy with the result.”

Vettel reched the start/finish line too late to begin his final flying lap in Q3 after being overtaken by Nico Rosberg at the final corner. He said he could have improved his time but that pole sitter Lewis Hamilton – who also failed to complete his final lap – might have done so too.

For sure Q3 was not perfect,” said Vettel. “I would have loved to have a second go.”

“My first attempt I felt that there was a little bit of time to gain here and there. So obviously very close, too close because definitely the margin was possible to go that much faster, but equally I think if Lewis had another chance he could have improved as well.”

Vettel hit trouble at the beginning of qualifying when a problem with his engine store during Q1 forced him into the pits.

“Obviously beginning of Q1 the heartbeat was definitely rising very quickly when we realised there is an issue,” said Vettel.

“We came in, restart the car which seemed to solve the problem. After that was fine so was good to go out and get another feel for the car with the wet in the conditions was very tricky.”

2014 Malaysian Grand Prix

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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7 comments on “Starting second might be an advantage – Vettel”

  1. Like it’d eve make a difference!

  2. He might gain a few metres off the start, but if its a dry race hes got zero chance of holding either Merc behind him.

    1. And he probably realizes that. If dry, hold third and wait for the Merc’s to eat their tires. They had trouble with that in P2 yesterday. Rain is likely so perhaps going for the lead at the start will be the right move.

  3. The grip would have washed have anyway as we saw today in FP3 the way drivers were struggling so it won’t matter

    1. WilliamB (@william-brierty)
      29th March 2014, 17:31

      @neelv27 – My thoughts exactly. I think Seb is playing games with Lewis’ head…

  4. To be honest, I’m a bit skeptical he would have improved in Q3 due to the apparently worsening conditions, so I suppose it is ultimately inconsequential. Still frustrating, though.

  5. He may be right. But, RBR was “saved” again by rain, while Ferrari lost something. In dry conditions I don’t think any of the RBR would have made it higher than 4th. Raikkonen is definetely 1 of the drivers who would have made to top 3 in Quali, but he’s just 6th now.

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