Vettel's unprecedented problem in Silverstone qualifying

For the second consecutive time, F1 disputed a classification in the wet and, as in Canada, Aston Martin was shipwrecked and Vettel was eliminated at the first change. But if in Montreal it was due to a miscalculation by the team with the tires, the problem went deeper this Saturday at Silverstone.

In general, the green car had no rhythm due to a host of consequences, and another setback suffered by the four-time world champion did not help either.

Given the possibility of more rain, all the teams except Alpine took to the track as soon as Q1 began, including Aston Martin with its two drivers. However, the German soon joined Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon in the pitlane, and in fact they ended up being the three with the fewest laps in that first round.

Sebastian Vettel revealed that he had lost time because he had to return to the pitlane with a problem in the visor of his helmet that even forced him to remove his helmet and put on a spare.

“Actually I had a problem with the visor, and I had to change the helmet. So it was an unplanned stop,” he explained.

However, he made it clear that he was not eliminated for that reason: “No, we had a lot of time afterwards, so that extra stop didn’t ruin anything for me.”

Vettel, who will start 18th while his teammate Lance Stroll qualified last (20th), was disappointed with the car’s performance, not understanding how they could finish behind all their rivals.

“We just didn’t seem to be quick enough,” said Sebastian Vettel. “We lost a lot of time. And I guess everywhere on the lap. I mean balance-wise I had a lot of understeer in the car and I was hoping I could turn well.”

“But I don’t think that was the main problem. For some reason we couldn’t generate the grip that we should have had. And then you can’t turn the car, so your outlook on traction isn’t very good. So it’s all lagging behind. , and one thing adds to another, so it’s not great.”

This was a weekend that Aston Martin had red-marked on the calendar, with a major update to the car expected to be half a second better.

The team runs at home (even more so than other teams), as it is based in Silverstone, and they saw it as an event to convince Vettel to renew his contract for 2023. However, they have not started well.

“I think it’s hard to explain because in the morning I think the car felt good in terms of balance,” he lamented. “But I think Silverstone is a very honest track in terms of showing you where you are, and we’ll see on Sunday how our race pace is.”

“I don’t think we can judge the updates yet, but it’s clearly not been a big step forward and straight forward. So there are still some things we need to understand.”

Regarding the race, he added: “We have to be realistic. We just don’t seem to be very competitive this weekend. So it will be difficult to score points, but that has to be the goal, and we’ll see. Maybe a safety car will play in our favor this time. I don’t know.”

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22

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Foto de: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22

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Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22, leaving the pits

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Photo by: Glenn Dunbar/Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22

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Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22

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Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari F1-75

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Foto de: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari F1-75, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18

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Foto de: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari F1-75, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18

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Foto de: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin, Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin, en el pit lane

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Foto de: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22, sparks

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Photo by: Glenn Dunbar/Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22

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Foto de: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin, signs autographs for fans

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Photo by: Zak Mauger/Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin sign autographs for fans

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Photo by: Zak Mauger/Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin sign autographs for fans

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Photo by: Zak Mauger/Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin, arrives at the circuit

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin, arrives in an Aston Martin DBX at Silverstone

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Photo by: Zak Mauger/Motorsport Images

Andreas Seidl, McLaren Team Principal, with Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin

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Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL36, zooms in as Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W13, George Russell, Mercedes W13, Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL36, Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo C42, Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22, practice their starting procedures at the e

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W13, Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo C42, George Russell, Mercedes W13, Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL36, Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22, practice their start procedures at the end of FP2

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22

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Foto de: Drew Gibson/LAT

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22, Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo C42, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18, practice their start procedures at the end of FP2