SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium -- Sebastian Vettel thinks Ferrari can be happy with the "big step" it made overnight after locking out the second row of the grid.
Ferrari looked to be struggling on Friday but closed to the gap to the front on Saturday afternoon, with Kimi Raikkonen thinking pole pole position had been up for grabs in Q3. In the end, the Finn settled for third ahead of Vettel, who thinks both Ferraris would have been closer to the front were it not for issues with the final sector.
"Looks like we both struggled with the last corner, so hopefully, tomorrow, we will be friends with that chicane," Vettel said. "I think, overall, the car was good - we made a big step from yesterday and it felt quite good throughout qualifying, but I had a bit of a wobble on my last attempt so it wasn't great as I didn't put everything together.
"In that regard, Kimi probably had the upper hand in quali but it should be a good race. We both start on the soft compound tomorrow, rather than the supersoft, so we'll see. I hope it is as close as today - it should be an exciting race."
Vettel finished the session with a frustrated radio message in Ferrari's direction, complaining about how much time he was losing in the final corner. He explained that it seemed to be a problem replicated across the grid.
"I didnt have as much grip as I was expecting. I think I did a good job lining up the last corner, and particularly the exit, trying to be fairly straight and get good traction but, when I went on the power, I had a lot of wheelslip. I think everybody's been struggling, the tyres are getting very hot even if it's just one lap that they're getting too hot, and everybody seemed to struggle in the last chicane, some people more, some people less.
"I was a bit upset as I was expecting more and didnt get the benefit of taking off some speed beforehand to prepare for the exit."