Vettel backs Q3 stoppage decision

The final part of qualifying was stopped before anyone had completed a final lap, as a heavy rain shower had just hit the circuit. After allowing the worst of the weather to pass, the session resumed 20 minutes later for a final seven minutes of running.

Vettel ended up third on the grid, and was satisfied that the correct decision had been made.

"It was tricky at the start of Q3," he said. "There was a lot of water and it was a good thing to get red flag out. There was too much water. The cars are low so we end up swimming rather than driving."

Mark Webber then used intermediate tyres on the second Red Bull to take pole on the rapidly-improving track, while Vettel and the other top ten contenders stayed on full wets.

"I said straight after qualifying 'good job poker face' [to Webber]," Vettel joked. "In the end we made the right call. In Q3 the water disappeared quicker than the majority of people thought."

The German said he was still very satisfied with third on the grid, despite having been on pole for the past two races.

"I am happy. I think we did a step forward overnight and looking back it was a pretty chaotic qualifying today," Vettel said.

"We saw in Q1 some of the favourites going out - the most important thing was to get into the next one carefully. The pace was there and in the end third is a very good result, there was not much gap to the next best car on wets, I think about one tenth and plenty of margin, all round a good day."