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Mercedes 1-2 in Spain as Rosberg grabs pole
Source: AFP |
May 12, 2013, Sunday
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NICO Rosberg secured his third career pole position as Mercedes completed a hat-trick of qualifying successes - and then warned that he is worried his tires will let him down in today's Spanish Grand Prix.
The 27-year-old German led the way as his team locked out the front row of yesterday's grid but he was immediately concerned afterwards that he does not endure a repeat of his problems at last month's Bahrain Grand Prix where he limped home ninth.
"I had a really good lap at the end and it is great motivation for the team but we have to be cautious because of what happened in Bahrain," he warned.
"Everybody's been working hard back in the factory. We will face different issues with the tires than we did in Bahrain, but it will still be a big challenge with the tires tomorrow."
Rosberg clocked a dazzling best lap time of one minute and 20.718 seconds to outpace his nearest rival and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by two-tenths of a second.
After poles secured by Hamilton in China and Rosberg in Bahrain, this was a magnificent treble top for the resurgent Mercedes outfit as it outclassed its rivals at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo.
Defending triple world champion Sebastian Vettel gave his best for Red Bull to qualify third ahead of Kimi Raikkonen for Lotus, local hero and two-time champion Fernando Alonso and his Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa.
For Mercedes it was an auspicious afternoon as only once in 22 races at the Spanish track has a driver who did not start from the front row managed to win - and that was seven-time champion Michael Schumacher for Ferrari back in 1996.
Romain Grosjean was seventh in the second Lotus ahead of Mark Webber in the second Red Bull, Sergio Perez in the leading McLaren and Paul di Resta of Force India. McLaren teammate Jenson Button flopped again and qualified only 14th.
The 27-year-old German led the way as his team locked out the front row of yesterday's grid but he was immediately concerned afterwards that he does not endure a repeat of his problems at last month's Bahrain Grand Prix where he limped home ninth.
"I had a really good lap at the end and it is great motivation for the team but we have to be cautious because of what happened in Bahrain," he warned.
"Everybody's been working hard back in the factory. We will face different issues with the tires than we did in Bahrain, but it will still be a big challenge with the tires tomorrow."
Rosberg clocked a dazzling best lap time of one minute and 20.718 seconds to outpace his nearest rival and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by two-tenths of a second.
After poles secured by Hamilton in China and Rosberg in Bahrain, this was a magnificent treble top for the resurgent Mercedes outfit as it outclassed its rivals at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo.
Defending triple world champion Sebastian Vettel gave his best for Red Bull to qualify third ahead of Kimi Raikkonen for Lotus, local hero and two-time champion Fernando Alonso and his Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa.
For Mercedes it was an auspicious afternoon as only once in 22 races at the Spanish track has a driver who did not start from the front row managed to win - and that was seven-time champion Michael Schumacher for Ferrari back in 1996.
Romain Grosjean was seventh in the second Lotus ahead of Mark Webber in the second Red Bull, Sergio Perez in the leading McLaren and Paul di Resta of Force India. McLaren teammate Jenson Button flopped again and qualified only 14th.
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