Vettel praises Ferrari recovery after PU drama

Sebastian Vettel was full of praise for his Ferrari team after power unit concerns left him at risk of missing out on qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Despite a Ferrari 1-2 in FP3, Vettel completed only seven laps due to a power unit issue that led the team to change components ahead of qualifying. With just two hours between the end of the final practice session and the start of Q1, Vettel was able to head out without losing any track time and duly qualified second on the grid.

"I have to say the team did a phenomenal job," Vettel said. "By surprise we had an issue this morning and had to change the engine. Normally that's close to a three-hour job, if you're rushing. I don't know how they managed. They did it in sub-two hours. I was basically, at 10-to-2 or five-to-2, I was ready and we were ready to fire up and go out in Q1.

"So really a big thank you to them. Kimi [Raikkonen]'s crew helped out too. It was quite funny at one point: one side of the garage there was one or two mechanics and the other one was completely crowded, like bees hovering around the car. A great effort, so big thanks."

Vettel was also told to stop when out on track in Q1 before getting the all clear to continue. Although relieved not to start from the back of the grid, the championship leader admitted to some disappointment after missing out on pole position to Lewis Hamilton by just 0.051s.

"I think we could have had pole today, so not the ideal end, but when I consider where we were this morning, then obviously with the change we made it out, in Q1, a small issue there, so I think it's a really good recovery.

"Yesterday I wasn't happy with the car balance at all and today it was phenomenal. I felt yesterday that it was in the car but I just couldn't get to it. And today, as I say, was really a pleasure, especially the first two sectors. Conditions were very tricky, with the wind, never easy, never knowing what to expect.

"And I think I got caught out a bit in the last sector – my favorite place – which Mark Webber taught me many lessons over the years and I still haven't got it. I don't know, I need to go back to school maybe and sit down and have a proper look. I have done so many laps but still the last chicane is a bit tricky so I'm sure with the race and with the rhythm tomorrow it will be fine, but for quali today it could be a bit better."

Hamilton himself admitted there was a lot of pressure during qualifying having been slower than Ferrari in final practice.

"It started out that we were potentially a tenth ahead of the Ferraris, but in P3 it seemed that we were lot closer, so, quite level," Hamilton said. "So it was really intense for us, making sure we pulled out every millisecond we can.

"We made some changes as we got into qualifying and the car felt great, so I was very happy with it. The Q1 lap was very, very good. The Q2 lap was so-so, but good enough. Then the first lap of Q3 was very good and the second lap was up, I think almost two tenths. I didn't finish it that way but still it was good enough to keep me ahead."