Aston Martin can fight for good points – Vettel – Motorsport Week

Sebastian Vettel is optimistic that Aston Martin can contest one of its most successful races in Mexico amid setbacks for its rivals.

Vettel has only scored five of this year’s 17 Grands Prix and only three times more than nine – fifth in Monaco and the rainy Belgium race as well as his podium in Azerbaijan.

Vettel retired from Q2 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, but due to penalties for Yuki Tsunoda and Lando Norris, he will start from ninth place on the grid.

“That was a decent performance,” said Vettel. “We tried to make it on Medium in Q3 and I had two runs in Q2: my first wasn’t very strong and I think a tear on the rear wing cost us some performance, but the second run was much better.

“I think we will start from ninth place, but let’s see what the starting grid will look like when all the penalties have been imposed. That should give us a good platform for a strong race.

“We showed good pace on the long runs this weekend, so I think we can fight for good points.

“We also have a free choice when it comes to tires [as a result of qualifying 11th]So let’s go away and look at the data to work out the best strategy. “

Vettel’s team-mate Lance Stroll is the last to start; the Canadian should already line up to the rear due to an engine change, but then fell out of Q1.

Stroll was examined at the medical center as a precaution, but was quickly released.