- US GP - FP2
Vettel to take part in qualifying despite penalty
Christian Horner says Sebastian Vettel will take part in qualifying for the United States Grand Prix despite the fact he will start the race from the pit lane regardless, even if it is "only for one or two laps".
Vettel took a sixth power unit change for this weekend's race, which the FIA confirmed on Friday would see him start from the pit lane as per the regulations - with drivers allowed to make five changes to six engine components before incurring a penalty. With qualifying effectively meaningless as a result there was speculation Vettel would sit out qualifying entirely.
But Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says it would be wrong for Vettel to sit out qualifying, especially with the grid already down to 18 cars due to the absence of Caterham and Marussia in Austin.
"We will do Q1," Horner said. "The problem is, because the rules dictate wherever he qualifies he starts in the pit lane, but we know they are fragile so we've got to save as many kilometres as we can - so theoretically he's only going to do one or two laps. It's right that he takes part in the event. It's important that he registers a lap, that he's within the 107% so there's no debate whether he'll be racing on Sunday.
"It's a silly rule, isn't it, to eliminate a car totally from qualifying. It doesn't really make sense. People are here to come and see the guys qualify and do the best they can. It's a crazy situation to have that we've got a four-time world champion effectively not taking part tomorrow. We will take part in the first part of qualifying but we're going to be limiting mileage to an absolute minimum."
Horner says there was no pressure on Red Bull from above to ensure Vettel took part in the session.
"I haven't had that conversation with Bernie, he hasn't said 'you have to send your cars out' or anything like that. We need to abide by the rules and it's only right that Sebastian does go out and do a lap in qualifying. People have come here to see the drivers in action - it would be silly to have him on the pit wall."
Vettel admits he is resigned to the penalty and says it was the reason he finished bottom of the timing screens.
"Well, the rules are the same for all of us no matter where you finished the year before, so you have to obey them," Vettel said. "It's not great knowing you can't go out and smash it in qualifying. Difficult for us but we knew it from the start so we focused solely on race preparation and hopefully we have a good comeback from the pit lane on Sunday."
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