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Sebastian Vettel was angry after his early elimination from qualifying for the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix.
The German missed the cut in the first phase of the session and will start his maiden race for Aston Martin from 18th on the grid.
By contrast, team-mate Lance Stroll will start 10th after he reached Qualifying 3.
Vettel’s chances were dealt a blow as he started his final timed lap in Qualifying 1.
As he began the lap, Nikita Mazepin had his second spin of the session, parking his car broadside at Turn 1.
Forced to back off, Vettel’s chances of progressing beyond Q1 were immediately compromised.
They were completely scuppered when he had to slow again for another yellow flag at Turn 8 – likely Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, which had switched itself off.
“Certainly, I think there was potential to be a lot faster,” Vettel said of his premature elimination.
“We just made it across the flag and then, yeah, had the issue, obviously with the yellow flags during the lap.
“That made it a little bit impossible to sort of come back, but it is what it is now.”
Despite the disappointment of his early exit, Vettel suggests there is promise in the Aston Martin AMR21.
“I’m learning – I think the quali was good, and it felt positive,” he said.
“Obviously, I only got like a lap and a half, but I think we still have a lot of work ahead of us.
“We would have hoped for a better start, but it’s what it is.
“Hopefully tomorrow we have a good race. I think we can come up quite a bit and see what today brings.
“I’m upset and angry that, you know, it wasn’t our fault in a way not to make it through,” he added.
“We have to take it and do what we can preparing tomorrow.”
The Bahrain Grand Prix gets underway at 02:00 AEDT on Monday morning.
