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Vettel in record Red Bull pole
Source: Agencies |
October 30, 2011, Sunday
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RED Bull set a Formula One record of 16 pole positions in a season when double world champion Sebastian Vettel lapped fastest in qualifying for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix yesterday.
The 24-year-old German's 13th pole in the 17th of 19 races also kept him on course to break Briton Nigel Mansell's 1992 record of 14 poles in a single year.
Vettel, who clocked one minute, 24.178 seconds around the Buddh International Circuit in Noida, outside New Delhi, will be joined on the front row by Australian teammate Mark Webber because McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who was second fastest in the final session, has a three-place penalty for ignoring warning flags in Friday practice.
"A new circuit, new venue and tricky for all of us... we've seen all weekend the dust on the track," said Vettel, who wrapped up his second successive title in Japan this month with four races to spare.
"Ideally we want to finish one-two but it's going to be an interesting race," added the German of a 28th career pole that lifted him level with the late Argentine great Juan Manuel Fangio in the all-time list.
Webber has yet to win this season and Red Bull has said its main aim now both titles have been defended is to ensure the Australian finishes as overall runner-up.
That has triggered speculation that Vettel could gift his teammate a win today but Webber was having none of that.
"There's been a lot of talk from the team but no talk from me," he said. "I don't want any positions off Sebastian. Nothing will change."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and McLaren's Jenson Button will share the second row.
Hamilton will start fifth and, once again, alongside Brazilian Felipe Massa with whom he has clashed repeatedly this season.
The Ferrari driver hit a kerb heavily, smashed his front right suspension and crashed across the gravel and into the wall at the end of the session.
Hamilton was not the only driver to go into qualifying carrying a grid penalty, with Renault's Russian Vitaly Petrov handed a five-place drop for causing a collision at the last race in South Korea. Sauber's Mexican Sergio Perez was given a three-place drop for the same offense as Hamilton while HRT's Australian Daniel Ricciardo faces a largely meaningless five-place penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change.
The 24-year-old German's 13th pole in the 17th of 19 races also kept him on course to break Briton Nigel Mansell's 1992 record of 14 poles in a single year.
Vettel, who clocked one minute, 24.178 seconds around the Buddh International Circuit in Noida, outside New Delhi, will be joined on the front row by Australian teammate Mark Webber because McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who was second fastest in the final session, has a three-place penalty for ignoring warning flags in Friday practice.
"A new circuit, new venue and tricky for all of us... we've seen all weekend the dust on the track," said Vettel, who wrapped up his second successive title in Japan this month with four races to spare.
"Ideally we want to finish one-two but it's going to be an interesting race," added the German of a 28th career pole that lifted him level with the late Argentine great Juan Manuel Fangio in the all-time list.
Webber has yet to win this season and Red Bull has said its main aim now both titles have been defended is to ensure the Australian finishes as overall runner-up.
That has triggered speculation that Vettel could gift his teammate a win today but Webber was having none of that.
"There's been a lot of talk from the team but no talk from me," he said. "I don't want any positions off Sebastian. Nothing will change."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and McLaren's Jenson Button will share the second row.
Hamilton will start fifth and, once again, alongside Brazilian Felipe Massa with whom he has clashed repeatedly this season.
The Ferrari driver hit a kerb heavily, smashed his front right suspension and crashed across the gravel and into the wall at the end of the session.
Hamilton was not the only driver to go into qualifying carrying a grid penalty, with Renault's Russian Vitaly Petrov handed a five-place drop for causing a collision at the last race in South Korea. Sauber's Mexican Sergio Perez was given a three-place drop for the same offense as Hamilton while HRT's Australian Daniel Ricciardo faces a largely meaningless five-place penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change.
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