Sebastian Vettel expressed surprise at Ferrari’s one-lap advantage over Mercedes as he pipped team-mate Kimi Raikkonen to pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Vettel usurped Raikkonen with a last-gasp effort in Q3, securing Ferrari’s first pole in the country in 14 years, as Ferrari again locked out the front row of the grid.
Vettel’s pole came a week after third-placed Valtteri Bottas finished within two-tenths of a second of the German, while in Australia Lewis Hamilton held a substantial buffer over the chasing pack.
In China, Vettel finished over half a second clear of Bottas – again the lead Mercedes driver – and admitted to surprise at the margin.
“I think the first three races have been a bit different now,” said Vettel.
“The tracks are quite different to each other and to have that much of a gap is a bit of a surprise.
“But I think it’s also a track where you just need to get in and find that sweet spot and if you are a little bit out then easily you drop a little bit of time.
“So I wouldn’t be surprised tomorrow if that gap disappears and it will be a very tight race.”
Vettel languished behind Raikkonen after the first Q3 runs but edged his team-mate by 0.087s as the chequered flag fell, and revelled in his pole effort.
“It was indeed a crazy session – the car was unbelievable and it just got better,” said Vettel.
“I think right from the first lap in the first of part of qualifying, in Q1, I was really happy and in the end we didn’t have to do much on the car.
“I didn’t have to fight so much finding the last fine tunings. I was very happy with the settings I had from the beginning.
“Usually you change quite a lot, you change your mind… it was tricky, because also the wind was changing, sometimes more, sometimes less, and a bit gusty as well.
“The last lap in Q3 I knew I could step it up. I knew I had a bit more in me, because on the first run I had two moments, out of Turn 3, accelerating I was probably a bit keen. The same out of Turn 6, I lost the rear twice, so I lost a bit of momentum in those places.
“So I knew that I had a little bit more and obviously in the last lap I got it all together and very happy that when I crossed the line I was looking up to see the screen and I saw something green, which is usually good, and little bit of purple.”
