Lauda made bet with Wolff that Vettel would take Chinese GP F1 pole

Lauda, a Mercedes non-executive chairman, said after qualifying that he had bet team boss Wolff €10 that it would be the Ferrari driver who would emerge on top in the grid-deciding session.

Vettel ended up qualifying second, 0.186s slower than Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, meaning Lauda lost his bet thanks to his driver's "special lap".

"I bet Toto €10 on Vettel, because he really looked quick in the car, everything was right," Lauda told Sky Sports F1 after qualifying.

"But Lewis, thank God, pulled out one of his special laps."

Vettel, the winner of the season-opening race in Australia, finished just 0.186s behind Hamilton, who took his sixth pole position in a row.

Lauda believes Mercedes has the upper hand in qualifying trim, but accepts the race is likely to be very close.

"The issue is that Ferrari grew up in the Barcelona test, won the first race, is still on the way up, so it is very close between us," said Lauda.

"In qualifying, we are still quicker but let's wait for the race tomorrow."

Hamilton believes Ferrari might have the stronger car on Sunday, based on its form in the Australian Grand Prix.

"Ferrari have a very strong car [and there's] maybe a step up in race pace and how they treat their tyres when it is warm, so it will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow," said Hamilton.

"It will be close, so it bodes well for one of the most exciting days for a long time."