'Intense' Baku race keeps pole-sitter Vettel on his toes

Sebastian Vettel says he is yet to have full confidence in his Ferrari, despite qualifying on pole for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Vettel's first Q3 run was enough to seal pole position, but perhaps only because Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen made an error on his final run.

Vettel took pole ahead of Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, taking Saturday honours for a third race in a row.

However, an error which denied him the chance to improve upon his time of one minute 41.498 seconds keeps Vettel wary ahead of a race that could be chaotic if last year's is anything to go by.

"I think it will be an intense race and anything can happen as a safety car is very likely," he said.

"I think the good job is that our car was very good this afternoon which should mean we are in a good place for tomorrow.

A Vettel and Hamilton front row in Baku...

This could get interesting! ????#AzerbaijanGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/JqVEtVMFHd — Formula 1 (@F1) April 28, 2018

"I struggled a little bit for confidence and trust in the car which is important around here but when it clicks it keeps coming so it was really enjoyable."

As in recent events, Vettel's performance improved through the practice sessions until he peaked when it mattered most, although he has often turned it on at the very last.

"I felt the car was good in Q1 and Q2 but in the last segment in qualifying I had the car which does what I want, not have it as in pole position but I could put a good lap together," Vettel said.

"The first lap I was really happy and there were two tiny bits where it wasn't exactly perfect that I wanted to get right on the second run.

"I was a little bit faster but I locked up, it caught me by surprise at turn three and I wasn't sure whether I would try to go straight or try to hang on to it, I tried to hang on to it but yes fortunately it was enough as I had a really good lap on the first attempt."