Formula 1

Sebastian Vettel: “I am quite content with 5th”

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Sebastian Vettel was content to finish fifth in the Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, especially having started so far down the grid following issues during qualifying with his power unit and a grid penalty for a practice misdemeanour.

The Scuderia Ferrari driver felt that he could have had a shot at a podium finish had he not been demoted on the grid, and bemoaned his opening few laps where he did not make the progress he had hoped to have made.

“It was an entertaining race and I had a good recovery, but obviously there was not much more we could have done,” said Vettel.

“In the opening laps I was not very happy with myself, I was very aggressive but I could not find the gaps, I wanted to go crazy but there was no room, so I had to be patient and it’s a shame because these are the moments when if you are lucky you can gain easily five, six, seven or eight seconds in total race time.

“It did not happen so we had to fight back afterwards, but the pace was good, I felt happy in the car and especially toward the end the speed kept coming.”

Vettel’s first pit stop also lost him some valuable time, but was able to climb up the order as the race progressed, passing the Lotus of Pastor Maldonado late in the day to finish fifth, ending up just over four seconds shy of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen who had started the race third on the grid.

“I lost time at the first pit-stop and I am not sure it was totally on me,” said Vettel. “Something went wrong at the back of the car, but the guys have done a super job so far and they shouldn’t be blamed if sometimes things go a bit slower.

“About the move on [Nico] Hulkenberg, I noticed that I was already ahead of him on the outside, and I think he braked too late and could not make the corner.

“We did our best today and I am quite content with 5th, but it’s a bit of a shame because around here there is a very nice podium and without the penalty I think we could have had a shot at it.”

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