F1 Chinese GP: Ferrari's saved softs handy for the race

The German only did one run in Q3 at Shanghai - well aware that on single lap pace his Mercedes rivals have a decent advantage - to secure third on the grid.

But with long run form looking much closer, Vettel remains optimistic that not using all the tyres in a desperate bid to do better in qualifying could prove beneficial in the race.

"I think we knew it would be tough in qualifying to be really close," he said. "Q1 and especially Q2 look promising.

"In Q3 it was a bit more like what we saw in practice, so quite a large gap for us.

"But we're fairly happy to make sure we are right behind them.

"Obviously we want to close the gap, and maybe tomorrow we will be closer, but for now we are reasonably happy.

"It's a bit of a shame not to get both cars on the second row, I think as I was told, Kimi [Raikkonen] got a bit unlucky on [his] warm up lap.

"But in tomorrow's race, we should have the pace. We will see what we can do."

Raikkonen will start sixth and Vettel defended the decision by Ferrari to run soft tyres in Q1 - because the team appeared to have the pace to get through on mediums.

"I think it was probably possible but very, very close," he said. "So if you don't make it, you start the race from P16 or P17.

"I think that is why we decided to do that."