- US GP - Qualifying
Vettel will be satisfied with seventh
Sebastian Vettel says he is free to go on maximum attack from his pit lane start but is not expecting a top six finish at the United States Grand Prix.
Vettel has been penalised for a full power unit change, enough to ensure he starts Sunday's race from the pit lane, which has meant the world champion has focused solely on his race set-up this weekend. Red Bull is encouraged by the long run data obtained by Vettel but he does not think that means it will be any easier to charge through the field on Sunday.
When asked if he was free to push as hard as he wanted with a fresh engine, Vettel said: "That's the plan, so we'll see. Our race pace looked alright this morning and yesterday. Obviously passing people is a different story."
Vettel was also asked what he would consider a good result in Austin, to which he said: "Seventh. It depends a little bit on the conditions which look alright now. I think in the race tomorrow we can move up but it will be tight, difficult to overtake. We don't have an ideal straight-line speed but hopefully we can get some points tomorrow."
Despite speculation he would sit out qualifying Vettel was required to post a time worthy of competing in the race, meaning he completed just three laps in Q1. Given that he would be starting in the pit lane regardless Vettel says it was a frustrating situation to be in.
"There's not much point to qualify at all but we have to for the rules. For us, from a driver and team point of view, it's not much fun. There's no point for me to be standing here, at all, actually because I didn't do anything! It's not very nice not to be part of it."
Strategy will play a big part in any charge through the field for Vettel but he thinks it will need a lot of consideration overnight.
"I think the prime worked, to our surprise, better than expected yesterday, whereas the option didn't. But for tomorrow it's difficult to say, conditions will change again, temperatures are going up and down."
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