Sebastian Vettel: Aston Martin’s weekends undone on Saturdays already

Michelle Foster 04 Aug 2022 2:30 PM

Sebastian Vettel in the garage with his helmet on looking at the camera. Miami May 2022

Sebastian Vettel in the garage with his helmet and hans on looking at the camera. Miami May 2022

Sebastian Vettel believes Aston Martin’s one-lap pace is hurting them this season, leaving both drivers to “recover the situation” on Sundays.

Despite hoping for a reset this season, one that would bring Aston Martin into the fight, 2022 has been anything but a step forward.

With 20 points from 13 races, the Silverstone-based team is down in ninth place in the Constructors’ Championship with only Williams behind them.

Vettel reckons it is the team’s Saturday speed that is hurting their efforts to score points on Sundays.

“Our weak point is our pace in qualifying,” he said in Hungary.

“If we can qualify higher at the beginning of the race, we can fight in the midfield group.

“I was happy with the speed of the car on Friday, but on Saturday things always went wrong. That’s why I was always unhappy after qualifying.

“When we got to the race we were able to recover the situation.”

Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel focused sitting in the AMR22. Hungary July 2022

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Vettel has only made it through to Q3 on three occasions this season, Imola, Monaco and Azerbaijan while he has been out in Q1 five times.

His team-mate Lance Stroll has fallen at the first hurdle nine times with only one Q3 showing, Miami.

Vettel finished inside the points in all three races he started from the top ten but has only twice managed to haul his way in having started P11 or lower.

Stroll has managed that feat three times, while also scoring on his one top ten start.

Vettel is hoping Aston Martin can put in a better showing in the final nine races of this season, which will be the last nine of his career.

“We will try to do our best and we will keep fighting to the end and I’m looking forward to the break but then look forward to the last races that I have,” he said.

Vettel announced on the eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend that this season would be his last in Formula 1, the four-time World Champion citing his desire to spend more time wiht his family as the reason.