Bottas races to pole position – difficult times for Vettel
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World champion Hamilton counters ex-Formula 1 boss Ecclestone
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Mercedes races again from the competition at the Formula 1 start. The first pole position of the season does not get favorite Lewis Hamilton. The qualification was disappointing for Sebastian Vettel.
RSebastian Vettel stumbled into the early evening. Right at the start of his difficult farewell tour at Ferrari, the Hessians hit the neck with eleventh place in qualifying for the season opener in Austria. “This is not a good result for us,” said Vettel and immediately started researching the cause. “I thought we were a bit faster, but the others were able to gain more,” said the 33-year-old.
In the weak Ferrari, the last season at Scuderia for Vettel could also be a year of frustration. Once again, Mercedes is far away.
Mercedes in front: Valtteri Bottas and team-mate Lewis Hamilton left the competition behind
Quelle: 2020 Pool / Pool
Surprisingly, Finn Valtteri Bottas grabbed pole position in Spielberg, world champion Lewis Hamilton had to be satisfied with second place in all training sessions after best times. Bottas had a lead of twelve thousandths of a second. “I really missed this feeling when you push the car to the limit,” said the 30-year-old after parking his company car on the home stretch and wearing a mask.
Verstappen wants to win again
In front of empty grandstands and with a strict hygiene concept, Formula 1 started its emergency operation in Styria. So the jubilation of the Mercedes duo after the superior success in the first qualification of the season was rather business-like. “I didn’t manage to get a great lap,” said Hamilton. Nevertheless, he and Bottas were more than half a second faster than third-placed Max Verstappen. “We didn’t think we would have such a head start,” said Hamilton.
Red Bull driver Verstappen had won his employer’s home race in the two previous years and hopes to be able to catch the Mercedes duo by another tire strategy on Sunday (15.10 / RTL and Sky). “I hope it pays off for us. We have nothing to lose, ”said the 22-year-old.
Design errors at Ferrari
Ferrari must hope for a little sporting miracle. Charles Leclerc just saved himself in the final round of the hunt for the best starting places and ended up seventh. It was even worse for Vettel. “I had problems with the rear axle and didn’t quite trust the car to fly around the corner. That was probably the time we missed in the end, ”he said.
The Scuderia had previously admitted design errors to the new car and plans to launch a completely overhauled version at the third race of the season in Hungary. At the first two Grand Prix in Spielberg, Vettel and Leclerc must therefore fight for midfields with McLaren and Racing Point, instead of competing for the top according to their own self-image.
“Tomorrow is a new day, we have to make the best of it,” said Vettel. The hope of still winning the longed-for title in red before the end of his contract at the end of the year probably fell to a minimum early on.
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