Lauda admits he was betting on a Vettel pole

Lauda, a Mercedes non-executive chairman, claimed after qualifying that he had bet team boss Toto Wolff 10 Euro that it would be the Ferrari driver who would emerge on top in the grid-deciding session.

Vettel ended up losing out to Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton to pole position, however, costing Lauda his money.

"I bet to Toto 10 Euro on Vettel, because he really looked quick in the car, everything was right," Lauda told Sky after qualifying.

"But Lewis, thank God, pulled out one of his special laps."

Vettel, the winner of the season-opening race in Australia, finished just 0.186s behind Hamilton, who took his sixth pole position in a row.

Lauda reckons Mercedes still has the upper hand in qualifying trim, but concedes the race is likely to be very close once again.

"The issue is that Ferrari grew up in the Barcelona test, won the first race, is still on the way up, so it is very close between us," the Austrian added.

"At the moment I think in qualifying we are still quicker but let's wait for the race tomorrow."

Hamilton himself believes the Italian squad might have the stronger car on Sunday judging by its form in Australia.

"I think Ferrari have a very strong car. Maybe a step up in race pace and how they treat their tyres when it is warm, so it will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow," Hamilton said.

"It will be close, so it bodes well for one of the most exciting days for a long time."