Vettel expecting 'very tight' battle for pole

  • Published on 26 Oct 2019 09:47
  • comments 0
  • By: Dieter Rencken & Fergal Walsh

Sebastian Vettel believes that there will be a "very tight" tussle for pole position in Mexico between the top three teams

Vettel ended the second practice session on top of the timesheets, only narrowly ahead of Max Verstappen - however the Red Bull driver played down his chances of coming out on top on Saturday.

Drivers struggled throughout the day with the circuit, with many having trouble staying on the tarmac. Despite the difficulties, Vettel was happy with the balance of his car in the second session. 

"I don't think you will ever get a great feeling, the car is always moving a lot," Vettel admitted. "But it was okay in the afternoon, I was able to find the rhythm and chip away with it.

"Let's see, I think we can still improve but it will be very, very tight. But that's what we want."

Speaking about the difficulties the drivers had staying on the circuit, Vettel said: "I had my fair share this morning. I think I was the king of Turn 1 and going through the grass. I like mowing the lawn."

Tyre wear played a major role during the opening day of running at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with the soft and medium compounds dropping off quickly.

MOREHamilton: Aggressive tyre wear projecting 'three or four stop' strategy

Vettel says he didn't experience the worst of the soft tyre as he ran the medium compound on his long-run simulation but was still encouraged by the wear Ferrari showed compared to other teams. 

"For us, we split the work and I had more of a job to do on the medium," he said. "It was okay, we weren't that bad compared to other people. 

"I don't have the full view yet but it looked okay. On the softs, when I put them on they were fresh and I only did two laps. So I didn't have the worst tyre of the day for the long run."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America
17 - May 19 2024
Italy
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco
7 - Jun 9 2024
Canada
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
19 - Apr 21 2024
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9 2024
21 - Jun 23 2024
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 1,480
  • Podiums 56
  • Grand Prix 161
  • Country DE
  • Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (37)
  • Place of b. Heppenheim, DE
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar