Styrian GP : Post-Qualifying comments from Sebastian Vettel and Aston Martin

Aston Martin drivers Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel will start 2021 Styrian Grand Prix from P9 and P14 on the grid after qualifying P10 and P14 respectively.

So far in 2021 season, Aston Martin never had both of their cars in Q3. After a impressive FP2 & FP3, the team was well positioned to end the unwanted streak in qualifying session.

Both of their drivers struggled with understeer throughout qualifying. But Stroll managed to make it to Q3 with a impressive lap in Q2 on Red Soft tyres.

Vettel was unable to put his car under control for one good flying lap, he struggled more than his teammate with understeer problem. But The German will start the race on more durable Yellow marked Medium tyres compared to his teammate’s Red tyres.

With Thunderstorms forecasted for tomorrow’s race anything can possible on the race track. Hopefully both the drivers will bring back some solid points for Silverstone based outfit.

Sebastian Vettel (P14)

“I struggled to put the laps together today and when the grid is so tight [on a short lap] it can be quite costly.

“So I am not so happy after today’s qualifying and I need to try to understand why I did not find the rhythm. It feels like we lost a bit of time everywhere, rather than just one corner.

“There can still be a good race ahead for us and I am confident we will have decent race pace tomorrow. We have a free choice of tyres and it is a track where overtaking is possible.”

Lance Stroll (P10)

“It is a good feeling to be back in Q3, especially when it happens after such a tight qualifying. It was good fun out there and I think 10th [now ninth due to a rival’s penalty] was the most we could achieve today.

“It has been a smooth weekend so far. From the first laps in FP1, I have felt really good in the car and it has given me the confidence to really push because the balance has been consistent in every session.

“We have shown competitive pace in the last couple of races, so I think we can fight for some good points tomorrow. Anything can happen, especially with the weather, so let’s see how it plays out.”

Otmar Szafnauer, CEO & Team Principal

“Lance did a superb job today, fast in Q1 and Q2, thereby moving smoothly through to Q3. He will start tomorrow’s race from P9, from which position a strong points-scoring drive will be his aim.

Sebastian struggled with understeer in Q2, as a result running wide in the final turn on his fastest lap, which caused it to be disallowed for a track limits infringement.

But for that, he would not have gone through to Q3 anyway, but he would have been classified 12th rather than 14th.”