Title rivals
Sebastian Vettel and
Fernando Alonso declared themselves happy with qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix in the immediate aftermath of the session at Interlagos, with Vettel having the edge over his
Ferrari rival ahead of the championship decider.
Vettel was able to secure a place on the second row of the grid after setting the fourth quickest time in Q3, having lost out when he made a small error on his first run in the session.
However the German, who leads by 13 points going into the race, said he was still pleased with the result of qualifying and insisted he was racing to win.
“I'm pretty happy,” he said. “I made a bit of a mistake on my first run in Q3 and the second run was quite good, but it was more important to make sure I got a lap in. I think there was a little more left on the table but there is a long race tomorrow and anything could happen."
Vettel added that he wasn't concerned by the fact that Alonso's team-mate
Felipe Massa will start behind him on the grid in fifth.
"There are always going to be cars around you," he said. "It would be boring if it were just me on the grid. I think that's pretty normal. We have mirrors on the car but we try not to use them too much.
"Our eyes are headed towards the front. A lot can happen and its a long race. Our aim is to win."
Alonso meanwhile will start down in eighth spot but the Spaniard insisted that his title hopes are still very much alive.
“I'm happy with the lap and happy with qualifying," he said. "We started from seventh in Abu Dhabi, qualified ninth last weekend and were eighth here so we aren't surprised. We finished on the podium in the last two races so I'm hoping for the same tomorrow.
"I think we need some chaotic race in a way to mix up the positions a little bit. Maybe rain can help but we never know. We need to push to the maximum and try to be on the podium."