• Australian Grand Prix

Relaxed Vettel says he's not worried

ESPNF1 Staff
March 17, 2013 « 'It was one of the easiest races' - Raikkonen | Hamilton 'really happy' after finishing fifth »
Sebastian Vettel heads the field off the line ... but his early lead wasn't to last © Sutton Images
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Sebastian Vettel refused to be disheartened after he finished third in the Australian Grand Prix despite starting on pole.

Having led in the early exchanges Vettel faded as the race went on and was unable to match the pace of Kimi Raikkonen or Fernando Alonso. However, he said that Red Bull should be pleased to have got the most out of the car's performance in race trim on the day.

"I'm not worried, we have to admit sometimes that other people are faster," he said. "We were the third fastest car in the race but we can be happy with today. Clearly we wanted more, when you start from pole you want to win."

Vettel said his biggest concern was over tyre management, with the super soft tyres which were used in qualifying suffering from heavy graining

"After a good start and first two-three laps the tyres were falling apart. We couldn't go as long as other people. I knew Fernando passed us at the stop, and I didn't know where the other car [of Raikkonen] had come from. I never saw him so it was a little bit of a surprise."

Asked if he was frustrated at being stuck behind the Force India of Adrian Sutil for several laps, he said he did not help his cause but "it's pretty simple - if we had the pace we should have passed him … I don't think considering all the laps in the race it made a massive difference. In the end you have enough laps to even things out."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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