Vettel: P9 start is ‘where we normally wouldn’t belong’

Sebastian Vettel said it was a “really good effort” for him to take ninth in qualifying at Imola, but conceded it is not where Aston Martin “belong” in the current pecking order.

The four-time former World Champion made his way through to Q3 in a qualifying session beset with issues that saw five red flags break up the running, with some drivers’ running interrupted while on flying laps.

Vettel was included in this in Q3 with three ill-timed stoppages, having already arguably taken the AMR22 beyond its usual capabilities in the wet-dry conditions at Imola.

His team-mate Lance Stroll could have done the same, but the arrival of rain during a red flag period in Q2 put paid to his hopes of making it through to the top 10 with the rest of that session having taken place in the dry.

The German admitted the pace the car has shown so far in 2022 would not normally see him get into the mix in the third part of qualifying, and the ending was ultimately something of an “anti-climax” – but the result was still a positive one for the team.

We never stop pushing. We stay focused, work hard and keep our feet on the ground. On every step of this journey, #WeClimbTogether. pic.twitter.com/TY8aNfJ7Fg

— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) April 22, 2022

“I think it was eventful for everyone, so we take it,” Vettel said to Formula1.com. “Obviously we know we qualified where we normally wouldn’t belong, so that’s a really good effort.

“I had maybe a slow start, but I needed a little bit more time with the car to get a feel in Q1 and Q2. But when it mattered it was there, and the first run of Q2 was good which was crucial to get to Q3.

“In Q3, I think it would have been nice to have had a proper lap because I only had a