Christian Vietoris mystified by lack of pace

Mercedes’ Christian Vietoris is confused by his lack of pace in qualifying at Zandvoort where he will start tomorrow’s race from 16th.

The 24-year-old put in a strong performance in free practice to finish 10th and the best placed of the Mercedes drivers.

However, Vietoris failed to make it out of Q1 after the behaviour of his car changed from free practice, and he could only manage 16th in qualifying.

“I felt very comfortable in the car during this morning’s practice session and did quite well,” said Vietoris. “Then later in the qualifying, very little went right for me, especially in the first sector.

“I lost vital seconds there, which I needed to go through to the next segment.”