Ferrari Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel admits he should have “nailed” his qualifying lap f🌱or the Mexican Grand Prix at the first attempt after ending up third on the grid.

The Scuderia appeared favourites to land a sixth consecutive pole position heading into qualifying in Mexico City aft🥀er topping FP2 and final practice on Saturday morning, but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen turned in a pair of stunning laps to caus𝓰e a surprise.

Vettel said he paid the pri🎶ce for not stringing together a perfect first run, before seeingಞ his final effort hampered by yellow flags in the final sector after Valtteri Bottas crashed hard exiting the final corner.

“It’s not ideal with the yellow flag otherwise I think it could have been a bet💝ter 🅰session for myself,” Vettel said.

“I had it in my hands in the first run, I was probably to💝o cautious after a good first sector, then I lost the rhythm, and I was too aggressive in the end and had a big snap in the first corner.

“I was quite confiden♏t I could make u꧒p some time. There was a yellow flag, but it happens.

“I should have nailed it in the first run. Other than that, it’s been a good weekend so 🐷far, it gives me a boost for tomorrow.”

Asked for his o༺pinion on Verstappen improving his time under a dou𝕴ble waved yellow, Vettel replied: “I’m not the police so don’t ask me.

“It was clear it was a double yellow, people 🌳were on🍃 the track, it was clear you have to lift.”

And Vettel is bracing himself for a close race on Sunday, w🎶ith the German anticipating a fightback from Mercedes.

“The key tomorrow will🙈 be to have a good race car to look after the tyres, to choose the right strategy,” he added.

“We all star⭕t on the same tyre, but I think iꦺt will be a close race. Mercedes - I don’t know what happened to them today, but tomorrow they will be quick.”

Vett🀅el was outpaced by Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who was&ꦓnbsp;0.266s slower than Verstappen.

"Before the weekend we expected them to be strong,"ꦕ the Monegasque commented. 

"Then in FP3 we thought ‘ok we have a shot at pole’ and then in qualifying when we put everything together they were too q♚uick. 🧜It was a bit of a surprise in qualifying but I think we knew from the beginning anyway.

"I believe we 🌸were just losing too much around the c൩orners compared to Red Bull, they are very, very strong on kerb riding especially, which is important at this track because the grip is low and we seem to be struggling a bit more compared to them."