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Vettel takes pole position at Suzuka
Source: Agencies |
October 7, 2012, Sunday
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RED Bull driver Sebastian Vettel claimed pole position for the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix by qualifying ahead of teammate Mark Webber yesterday in Suzuka, Japan.
Vettel, a two-time winner in Japan, secured his fourth consecutive pole at Suzuka and will be in a good position in today's race to further erode the championship lead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.
"We had a very smooth qualifying session, nearly perfect," Vettel said. "The car felt perfect from the start. We didn't have a great result yesterday so I'm very happy with today's session."
Vettel won the previous race in Singapore and is just 29 points behind Alonso in the standings with six races left.
Alonso qualified seventh, and all of Red Bull's championship rivals will start the race several places back after a yellow caution flag in the final moments of qualifying prevented them getting in a last flying lap.
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen, third in the standings, caused the yellow flag when he spun at the edge of the track, and qualified eighth, while McLaren's Lewis Hamilton obeyed the flags and slowed, qualifying ninth.
"I spun. I was on a good lap and I was pushing - maybe a little too hard - and lost the rear," Raikkonen said. "It's a shame as the car feels the best it has all weekend. If the car's good tomorrow we should be able to move forward."
Hamilton's McLaren teammate Jenson Button qualified third but will start eighth due to a penalty for replacing the gearbox in his car.
"It's going to be tough tomorrow," Button said. "Never say never, and we will have a good car for the race tomorrow."
Hamilton, who is fourth in the standings and needs a good result to avoid losing ground, said he was unhappy with yesterday's qualifying.
Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher qualified 13th but has a 10-place penalty.
Vettel, a two-time winner in Japan, secured his fourth consecutive pole at Suzuka and will be in a good position in today's race to further erode the championship lead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.
"We had a very smooth qualifying session, nearly perfect," Vettel said. "The car felt perfect from the start. We didn't have a great result yesterday so I'm very happy with today's session."
Vettel won the previous race in Singapore and is just 29 points behind Alonso in the standings with six races left.
Alonso qualified seventh, and all of Red Bull's championship rivals will start the race several places back after a yellow caution flag in the final moments of qualifying prevented them getting in a last flying lap.
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen, third in the standings, caused the yellow flag when he spun at the edge of the track, and qualified eighth, while McLaren's Lewis Hamilton obeyed the flags and slowed, qualifying ninth.
"I spun. I was on a good lap and I was pushing - maybe a little too hard - and lost the rear," Raikkonen said. "It's a shame as the car feels the best it has all weekend. If the car's good tomorrow we should be able to move forward."
Hamilton's McLaren teammate Jenson Button qualified third but will start eighth due to a penalty for replacing the gearbox in his car.
"It's going to be tough tomorrow," Button said. "Never say never, and we will have a good car for the race tomorrow."
Hamilton, who is fourth in the standings and needs a good result to avoid losing ground, said he was unhappy with yesterday's qualifying.
Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher qualified 13th but has a 10-place penalty.
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