Vettel feeling 'a bit more competitive' but rues yellow flag display in Q3

©AstonMartin

Sebastian Vettel secured a spot among the top ten in qualifying in Qatar but the Aston Martin driver, while happy with performance', reckons he could have improved his time had it not been for a yellow flag displayed on his final flyer.

Vettel concluded Saturday's shootout - his first since Spa earlier this season - in tenth position but was charging on at the end of Q3 when he was forced to abort his lap when yellow flags were waved on the exit of the final corner where Pierre Gasly's AlphaTauri was stranded on the right side of the track.

Three drivers – Max Verstappen, Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz are under investigation for allegedly ignoring the yellow flags but Vettel wasn't caught out by the warning.

©AstonMartin

"It’s a bit of a shame because I had the yellow flag in the last sector and then the yellow flag cleared, I guess, because Max was coming," stated Vettel inaccurately as yellow flags continued to be waved at a marshal's post on the main straight.

"It was just a bit disappointing to have the yellow flag.

"I don’t know if it was a single yellow or double yellow, but if there’s a car standing on track, then it should be a double yellow – and double yellows are ‘abort the lap’ so I lifted.

"Maybe I was the only one."

Read also: Verstappen, Bottas and Sainz summoned for yellow flag breaches!

Otherwise, the four-time world champion was satisfied with his P10 result, a performance that placed him two spots ahead of Aston teammate Lance Stroll.

"I think we are feeling a bit more competitive this weekend and I had a good day overall.

"We managed to beat a Ferrari, a McLaren and even a Red Bull in Q2 so I think we can be happy.

"Overall, it was a decent qualifying session and we will see what we can do in the race. Overtaking here is difficult but not impossible and it will be a new experience for all of us."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.