Sebastian Vettel defends Ferrari's qualifying tyre gamble

SUZUKA, Japan -- Sebastian Vettel has refused to criticise Ferrari for its tyre gamble in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix, saying it had the potential to create a "miracle" result for the team.

Vettel qualified ninth at Suzuka after he was sent out on the wrong type of tyres at the start of the final qualifying session. While the rest of the field went out on the dry track on slick tyres, Ferrari believed rain was about to hit the circuit and wanted its drivers to be equipped with intermediates to deal with it.

However, the rain ultimately held off until later in the session meaning Vettel had to drive back to the pits for slicks only for it to start raining halfway round his quick lap.…