Vettel: We got lucky but we will take it

Sebastian Vettel admits that he got lucky at the Australian Grand Prix, which delivered a win for the German. Vettel started the race from third after qualifying over six tenths down on Lewis Hamilton on Saturday.

However, Vettel managed to finish ahead of the Briton in the race after a virtual safety car worked to his favour. By staying out longer, Ferrari pounced when a virtual safety car was deployed to recover a car that was stationary on the circuit.

Due to Vettel being able to go as fast as he'd like into the pitlane, he was able to make up time and get out ahead of his Merceds rival. In the process of securing the win, the 29-year-old claimed his 100th podium in Formula 1, on what was his 200th race entry.

"We were a little bit lucky today," Vettel admitted. "Lewis had a great lap yesterday, and he deserved pole position and had a very good race by controlling it at the beginning. Then we got a bit lucky but we will take it. 

"We put a flag up for every win at Maranello so I asked them to do it this morning. We are not there yet where we want to be exactly with the car and if I don’t feel it, it is a bit tricky, we all know. It was a good start, a good win and fresh motivation for the next couple of weeks."

After Hamilton and teammate Kimi Raikkonen pitted, Vettel said that he was praying that a safety car would be deployed: "In the race with my start I was hoping for a bit better but it didn’t really work so I had to stay third and towards the end of the first stint I lost a little bit of connection to Lewis and Kimi ahead as I struggled a little bit with the tyres. 

"I was praying for a Safety Car and there was a car that stopped at turn 4 and I was like ‘no, not there’ and then somebody stopped, I think it was the Haas, on the exit of turn 2 and then when I saw it I was full of adrenaline even though the race was frozen.

"But still to come into the pits and everything was on the limit because they told me it was really close to Lewis. We got out ahead and I know it is a difficult track to pass. He kept some pressure on especially at the beginning of the last stint and then at the end in the last five laps I could enjoy it a little more."
 

Fergal Walsh