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Red Bull flexes its muscles in Melbourne
Source: Agencies |
March 28, 2010, Sunday
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RAMPANT Red Bull charged to a front row sweep yesterday with Sebastian Vettel denying disappointed teammate Mark Webber pole position for the Australian's home grand prix.
The German, still only 22 but heavily fancied for this year's Formula One title, lapped Albert Park's tight street circuit in one minute 23.919 under overcast skies for his second pole in two races.
While Red Bull lived up to its billing for the quickest cars on track, Lewis Hamilton's troubles continued.
The Briton qualified his McLaren only 11th, the morning after being booked by police and having his Mercedes impounded for "improper" driving after leaving the track.
Vettel, who finished fourth in the Bahrain season-opener after a spark plug failure robbed him of the lead, will be chasing Red Bull's fourth win in five races today.
"First of all it was a great result for both of us and the team," the German, who won four races last year and was runner-up in the championship, told reporters.
"I think that's a great achievement -- it's better than having two Ferraris up here."
Webber, bidding to become his country's first home winner, was just over a tenth of a second slower than Vettel and felt disappointed after setting the early pace in the third session.
"Not really (happy), I would love to be on pole," said the Australian. "It's a lot better than my qualifying in Bahrain. In the end I did my best."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, winner on his debut for the Italian team in Bahrain, will line up third on the grid with McLaren's world champion Jenson Button alongside the Spaniard.
Michael Schumacher, the seven-time world champion who made a comeback to F1 in Bahrain after a three-year absence, qualified seventh, one place behind Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.
Alonso's Brazilian teammate Felipe Massa will start fifth today in Melbourne, where forecasts of late rain and strong winds may play havoc with tire selection and strategy for the twilight race.
"Safety cars, accidents, it could be quite messy. So the main thing is to have a tidy race and bring the car home," Vettel added.
Lotus performed the best of the three new teams, but joined Virgin and Hispania on the sidelines after both its drivers were knocked out after the first round of qualifying.
The German, still only 22 but heavily fancied for this year's Formula One title, lapped Albert Park's tight street circuit in one minute 23.919 under overcast skies for his second pole in two races.
While Red Bull lived up to its billing for the quickest cars on track, Lewis Hamilton's troubles continued.
The Briton qualified his McLaren only 11th, the morning after being booked by police and having his Mercedes impounded for "improper" driving after leaving the track.
Vettel, who finished fourth in the Bahrain season-opener after a spark plug failure robbed him of the lead, will be chasing Red Bull's fourth win in five races today.
"First of all it was a great result for both of us and the team," the German, who won four races last year and was runner-up in the championship, told reporters.
"I think that's a great achievement -- it's better than having two Ferraris up here."
Webber, bidding to become his country's first home winner, was just over a tenth of a second slower than Vettel and felt disappointed after setting the early pace in the third session.
"Not really (happy), I would love to be on pole," said the Australian. "It's a lot better than my qualifying in Bahrain. In the end I did my best."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, winner on his debut for the Italian team in Bahrain, will line up third on the grid with McLaren's world champion Jenson Button alongside the Spaniard.
Michael Schumacher, the seven-time world champion who made a comeback to F1 in Bahrain after a three-year absence, qualified seventh, one place behind Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.
Alonso's Brazilian teammate Felipe Massa will start fifth today in Melbourne, where forecasts of late rain and strong winds may play havoc with tire selection and strategy for the twilight race.
"Safety cars, accidents, it could be quite messy. So the main thing is to have a tidy race and bring the car home," Vettel added.
Lotus performed the best of the three new teams, but joined Virgin and Hispania on the sidelines after both its drivers were knocked out after the first round of qualifying.
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