Sep.25 (GMM) Top formula one drivers have defended the decisions of rival teams late on Saturday to sit out Q3 in Singapore.

Both Force India drivers as well as Mercedes' Michael Schumacher qualified for the top-ten shootout but elected to stay in their garages in order to save a set of tyres for Sunday's long race.

Some commentators criticised the decision as insulting to the thousands of paying spectators and detrimental to F1's "show", calling on those who deliberately sit out qualifying for tactical reasons to be penalised in future.

But pole sitter Sebastian Vettel said teams are simply making the best choices under the existing rules.

"I think that generally if we had more tyres across the weekend, we would run more," said the Red Bull driver.

His teammate Mark Webber agreed: "Basically, if we were all flush with tyres, the guys would be out there.

"I think the question is completely fair but I think the (suggestion of a) penalty is not -- it's not fair to penalise people who are looking to try to have a good performance on Sunday."

And McLaren's Jenson Button, who has qualified behind the dominant Red Bulls, added: "You can't penalise people for not running unless there's a regulation change.

"It's the way the regulations are and we're going to try everything we can to do the best we can on a Sunday."

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version