After a difficult start to the United St꧃ates Grand Prix weekend including a full chassis replacement on his car,🧜 Formula 1 title contender Sebastian Vettel has expressed his confidence in Ferrari's race pace as he looks to revive his fading championship hopes.

Vettel qualified second on Saturday behind title ri♛val Lewis Hamilton, who leads the drivers' standings by 59 points and can clinch a fourth world title in Aust𒈔in this weekend if results go his way.

Speaking about whether he was happy with a front row start, Vettel said it was crucial as he bids to halt Hamilton's coronation and drಌaw himself back into contention for the title.

"It was im✨portant to get front row because I believe our race pace is really good," Vettel 🍃said.

"In qualy all year we've been just a litꩵtle bit behind. So well done to Lewis, he did two great laps, and I'𝓡m looking forward to tomorrow now." 

Hamilton took pole with a fastest lap of 1:33.108, withꦅ Vettel within a few tenths at 1:33.347 - a similar gap to the end of Free Practice 3, although both went over a second faster in qualifying, with Hamilton's best lap in the morning session a 1:34.478. 

Asked about whether he could hope to win in t🎀he US, Vettel said he was still eyeing the longer term, with the championship not mathematically wrapped up despite a 59 point gap to Hamilton.

"Well, not just here - 𓆏it would be good to win also the others, but we have to go da🤪y by day," Vettel said.

"We were lacking a bit♎ of running yesterday, getting up to speed but it w💛as there when it mattered and the race is tomorrow." 

High winds at COTA have made the Saturday sessions trickier for drivers, including a particularly challenging first sec💯tor. Vettel admitted to having struggled with the conditions, saying" "I was very happy toward the end but I was lacking a bit in the middle, that transition from the first to second sector is quite tricky with the wind so I struggled a bit. 

"But finally I got it right and the last one really matteꦑred."