Formula One news

Vettel blames poor timing for grid position

A highly disappointed Sebastian Vettel will start the Brazilian Grand Prix from 16th on the grid on a weekend when a top two result is required in order to keep his championship hopes alive. The German laid the blame on poor timing, as the rain worsened towards the end of Q1.

Having been the first man to leave the pits, Vettel soon found himself being caught out in a worse downpour at the end of the first phase of the hour, forcing him out of the running. "Well I think I went to the pool, not to the race track today," the Red Bull driver half-joked with reporters.

Championship contender Vettel was eliminated from Q1

"Obviously it's extremely disappointing but that's life. There was obviously a window when the track was dryer but we couldn't use it. There was so much water…so it's a shame - there wasn't much missing but it was a question of timing."

Sebastian understands the task ahead of him for Sunday's race but again stressed that a higher position was possible. "I think it would be much nicer to start from the front but that's not the case, so that's life, we have to accept it," he continued. "It's not a question of pace, it's more of timing today. For sure, tomorrow when we start life will be between our teeth and we will try our best."

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