Sebastian Vettel reacts as Ferrari suffer qualifying nightmare at Austrian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel has admitted his surprise after failing to qualify in the top 10 for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver will start the season-opening race down in 11th position after being well off the pace of pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas in Spielberg.

Ferrari had admitted prior to this weekend’s meet that their performance during testing in February had forced them to rethink the entire design of their SF1000 car.

But their worst fears have now been realised, with the gap between themselves and pace-setting Mercedes seemingly growing in Austria.

Four-time champion Vettel had never before qualified outside the top 10 due to a sheer lack of pace while driving for Ferrari.

And he admitted his performance in qualifying had left him taken aback as he faces the prospect of having to fight through the pack to have a chance of securing some serious points.

“Of course, it’s a surprise,” Vettel told Sky Sports F1. “We thought that we had a little bit more in hand but it looks like the others were probably running a bit more fuel or more conservative in practice.

“I wasn’t quite happy with the car, wasn’t so happy with the car. More oversteer on entry than I would like. But we will see.

“I think tomorrow is a different picture. Maybe with the track getting a bit hotter it was bit more costly for us today.”

Vettel’s Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc will start the Austrian Grand Prix in seventh to compound the Italians’ misery.

The 33-year-old has tried to stay upbeat, insisting he and Leclerc will be in a position to contend on race day.

“It is a long race,” Vettel said. “I think in race trim we are always better and I think we will be able to make up some ground and score some good points.”

Leclerc has insisted the key is for Ferrari to face their problems head on as they react to the nightmare qualifying session.

“For now it’s not an easy qualifying for us,” Leclerc said. “Unfortunately that’s where we are at the moment.

“We need to stay positive in this moment that is very hard to find any positives. But I think this is the way forward, to work properly and try to get out of these hard times.

“Yes, it is difficult but we need to work as a team and hopefully be as strong as possible tomorrow to try and cheer everybody up.”

source: express.co.uk