Sebastian Vettel has admitted a tough Austrian Grand Prix led to focusing on 'damage limitation' which saw him finish on the podium to retake the lead in the Drivers' Championship as title rival Lewis Hamilton retired with mechanical problems.
The Ferrari driver started the race from sixth place after being demoted from third after receiving a penalty in qualifying; a poor getaway from the grid meant he was left on the outside of Turn 1, and he fell behind Haas' Kevin Magnussen.
When asked whether it was a bad day in the office, Vettel replied: "No. Obviously, it would have been nice to start further up.
"I tried to get some back at the start, in Turn 1, but it didn’t quite work. I was left with no place to go and then lost momentum. And then it was the same thing a little bit in Turn 3.
"I had to fight with the Renaults and the Haas at the beginning of the race and I lost a little bit of ground. Obviously, we lost a little bit of time at the stop [with Ferrari having to stack both cars].
"So for us, it was pretty much damage limitation but I think the pace was very good, the tyre management was good, so a positive day, it could have been better but a well-deserved win for Max [Verstappen]."
The four-time world champion also admitted he felt there was a missed opportunity when he realised Hamilton came out of the pits ahead of him after the British driver made his first pit stop of the race.
The German refuses to blame the team for any wrong-doing but does feel there were missed opportunities in the race which may have led to finishing in a better position, despite both Mercedes not making the chequered flag.
"I was aware that we were fighting him but I was of the opinion that we were ahead, and I didn’t expect it to be that close and to be on the back-foot, so I think, if I look back, and I was thinking about it in the race as well, I was told enough," added Vettel.
"So, I can’t blame the team. I thought I was taking it a little bit easy in the beginning because I was anyways a bit further back. There was no point. I didn’t understand in the beginning obviously the necessity to close as soon as possible. So maybe it’s also a bit my fault.
"But I think I had a bit of pace in hand, I tried to save tyres and make sure we make it to the end, not knowing what happens because the first stint was not easy – but yeah, I thought we could have done, I could have done a bit better with a bit more information – but nothing dramatic.
"I think overall the pace was really good. I mean, I was obviously losing a lot with the pitstop, the double-stop that we did, which was the right call – but I probably had to come back from the longest way.
"I think the speed was good so I’m happy with the race but obviously, it could have been better today. So I’m not entirely happy."
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