Vettel admits he ‘chickened out’ in final lap

Vettel admits he ‘chickened out’ in final lap

Joas van Wingerden

Saturday 11 November 2017 19:41

Sebastian Vettel was his own worst critic following his second-place finish in qualifying for the Brazil Grand Prix, by admitting that he ‘chickened out’ during his final lap.

Mercedes and Ferrari went head-to-head throughout the session, and after Hamilton spun out early it was between Vettel and Valtteri Bottas to clinch top spot on the grid.

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It was ultimately Bottas who came out on top, pipping Vettel by three one-hundredths of a second with the final lap of Q3, and Vettel believes he opened the door to the Finn courtesy of his errant last lap.

"It's alright," The German said about his position. "For tomorrow I think it's fine but I would have loved to be ahead.

"I think I chickened out a little bit on the brakes for the final run into turn one and lost a bit too much time. From there the lap was fine, I knew I had a bit left in the last corner which I got but by then I was too far behind.”

Vettel however added that there was enough about his car's display to give him hope that it can be a tight battle at the top of the grid tomorrow.

"I was happy with my first lap. I think it was OK. Three hundredths you always think there's somewhere you can get that.

"Our long run looked good, especially to Valtteri, so let's see what happens."

Vettel's Ferrarri team-mate Kimi Raikkonen finished third, while Red Bull'x Max Verstappen secured fourth spot to complete the top two rows of the grid.