Sebastian Vettel says he “can’t be happy” with his qualifying record against Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc during the 2꧟019 Formula 1 season.

Vettel trails Leclerc 11-7 in the head-to-heads and endured a run ౠof nine straight qualifying defeats to his younger teammate until finally out-pacing him with hi💝s second pole position of the season in Japan. 

Speaking about his qualifying performa🐭nces ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, Vettel said: “First of all Charles has done a very good job in qualifying.

“So I don’t think it’s right sitting here ꩲand not mentioning that - that needs to be appreciated.

“Here and there I didn’t have great sessions in qualifying, things maybe didn’t come 𒐪together the w💛ay I would have liked.

“Here and there I think I missed out on qualifying for different reasons 𝓀but overall I c𝄹an’t be happy with overall with how qualifying was this year.

“So the goal for the final three𓃲 races is to make sure we have a good Saturday, and not just only a good Sunday.”

Aftಌer claiming back-to-back podiums and finishing ahead of Leclerc at the last two rounds, Vettel sits ju🍎st six points behind the Monegasque in the battle to secure third place in the drivers’ standings.

Asked if his goal is now to beat Leclerc to thi🧜rd and if he thinks it will be important for 2020, Vettel replied: “Yes and no. It’s a sort of yes and no question.

"Yes of course the ambition is to finish third. Obviously we can’t finish first and second, so we try to finish third and I don’t think it matters for next year.

“As a teaౠm we have been fighting for very good positions 🌺in the last few races and we want to make sure that we can keep that up. Ideally win some of the last three races or all of them.”