Sebastian Vettel said he made reaching the start/finish line his ‘priority’ amid a frantic bid to start a second timed lap in Q3 in qualifying.
As drivers backed up for space, the Ferrari driver opted to pass three cars entering the back straight, both Renaults and Max Verstappen, costing the Dutchman and both Haas’ the chance to start a flying lap.
Unsurprisingly, Verstappen was livid saying Vettel “screwed everything up” with the four-time world champion offering his side of the story post-session.
“Obviously everybody timed it around the same so we all left for the same spot,” he was quoted by RaceFans. “If you were at the end of the train, which I was, then it was quite difficult.
“When the team told me we only had 10 seconds margin to cross the line in time to make another attempt I had to think of something.
“I don’t know if the others were not told but if everyone would had sped up the way I did then we should have all made it.
“But I obviously prioritised at that point to make the lap. It felt like others were not aware.”
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The eventual result would be third place as the Mercedes’ proved out of reach for the Ferrari, and Vettel admits he is still struggling to find the sweet spot of the SF90.
“We have a strong platform to work from, we started off well from Barcelona, the feeling was strong,” he said.
“Since then, [we’ve] struggled to repeat that. The past two races, we had little issues here and there.
“You try and drive around the problems and try to set up the car properly.
“Maybe some things related to tracks, which Barcelona doesn’t show, but the car is strong so it’s up to us to extract the performance.”
