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Formula One: Sebastian Vettel to skip United States Grand Prix qualifying

By Allsports.com.gh
Sports News Formula One: Sebastian Vettel to skip United States Grand Prix qualifying
OCT 30, 2014 LISTEN

The four-time defending Formula One champion is out of contention to retain the drivers' crown with three races remaining in 2014, and the German is looking to preserve his Red Bull for the final two races of the season in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

Vettel said it will depend on how his car fares in practice on Friday and Saturday as to whether he will attempt qualifying in Austin, Texas.

"You can talk about obligations, but in the end we have to manage the situation with the engines. The rules are the same for everyone," the German stated.

"Obviously it was our fault to be very greedy at the beginning of the season in terms of having issues and with reliability, not taking the engines to the end of their lives.

"The situation is what it is. I'd love to change it, to qualify in the normal way and use every practice session to the maximum.

"We're still trying to work out how many kilometres we have to do an absolute minimum to survive. Of course, we'd like to do more.

"We'll do practice, and then we'll go from there.
"But the rules are pretty clear. Once you decide to pull the joker and take a sixth engine, sixth turbo, all the pieces, you have to start from the pit lane, even if you qualify on pole.

"So instead of burning mileage in qualifying which you would regret later on in Brazil or Abu Dhabi where you might not see the finish line."

Vettel also said he is not ready to willingly give up on challenging for pole in the US, where he won for the first time in 2013.

"Of course, it's a very enjoyable, and qualifying is usually when you get everything out of the car, try to nail that one final flying lap," he added.

"It's usually the time when you go quickest over the whole weekend, so it would be a shame to miss out on that.

"But points are scored on Sunday, and if it's what we have to do, then it's what we have to live with.

"It's part of the regulations, I didn't make them, but equally everyone has to respect them."

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