Sebastian Vettel "angry with myself" after failing to capitalise on dramatic qualifying

Vettel, Aston Martin, RussianGP — Photo: © LAT Images

Russian Grand Prix

Vettel "angry with myself" after failing to capitalise on dramatic qualifying

Vettel failed to make Q3 at Sochi

Ewan Gale

Saturday 25 September 2021 18:14 Updated: 19:31

Sebastian Vettel has revealed to being angry with himself at failing to reach Q3 in qualifying for the Russian Grand Prix.

The German will line up 11th on the grid after failing to find the lap time needed in tricky intermediate conditions at the Sochi Autodrom.

At the conclusion of the session, Vettel was audibly frustrated, shouting "No way! No f***ing way" when told of his failure to reach the top 10.

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The four-time champion's anger will no doubt be heightened with Aston Martin team-mate Lance Stroll taking advantage of drying conditions to qualify eighth and ahead of the Red Bull of Sergio Perez.

"I think we could have easily gone through but I had traffic on my final attempt which didn't help and I am angry with myself that already before, I didn't put a faster lap in," explained Vettel.

"I definitely felt we could have had a good result but like that, we are stuck more or less on the edge of the top 10 and it will be a difficult race tomorrow.

"In the race, it is not an easy track to overtake. It is much better to start further up and survive rather than being fast, starting further back and not being able to make progress. Let's see what we can do tomorrow."

Stroll bemoans being first to cross line

As one of the first drivers to make the switch to slicks in Q3, Stroll lay third in the dying stages but lamented being one of the first to begin his final flying lap as the conditions improved quickly with time.

"I think it was a good effort up until Q3," said Stroll. "We were pretty competitive all session.

"It is a shame in Q3 that we were the first car to start the last lap, in these conditions it isn't great with the track getting better and better every lap.

"That was a bit of a shame but still a good effort."