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Webber claims German pole
Source: Agencies |
July 24, 2011, Sunday
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RED Bull's Mark Webber will start today's German Formula One Grand Prix on pole position with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton alongside after a superb qualifying lap.
Champion Red Bull has now seized pole for the last 11 races, 10 of them this season, but its world champion Sebastian Vettel could only manage third spot on the grid at his home race.
Australian Webber posted a time of 1 minute, 30.079 seconds around the 5.1-kilometer Nuerburgring circuit, with Briton Hamilton 0.065 seconds behind in a surprising performance. Vettel, the 2011 points leader, finished a further 82 thousands of a second off the pace.
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso of Spain, winner in Britain earlier this month, qualified fourth.
It was the first time in 15 races that runaway championship leader Vettel, who has an 80-point lead over Webber, was not on the front row.
Hamilton's performance was a shock given the Briton had dismissed his team's chances on Friday after recent disappointing showings.
"I definitely underestimated how good the car would be. It felt fantastic. It was one of the happiest and most comforting laps, I've ever had," the 2008 world champion told a news conference.
The McLarens had a number of upgrades and were boosted by the return to pre-Silverstone engine regulations for this race but few in the paddock thought they could split the Red Bulls.
A bristling Webber, who ignored team orders not to try to overtake Vettel in Britain before very reluctantly relenting, will line up first on the grid for the second straight race and third time this year.
"My form has been getting a little bit better over the last few races. The session went pretty well," Webber said. "The boys did a great job on the car, some pretty late nights in the lead-up."
Vettel, winner of six of nine races so far, put on a brave face before his adoring public.
"Overall there wasn't much missing to Lewis and Mark, the most important thing is I have a much better feeling for the car today," he said at the halfway point of the season.
Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, enduring a miserable return from retirement, just squeezed into the final phase of qualifying with the Mercedes fans in the stands doing their best to roar him on.
The German will start 10th today, with rain expected.
India's Karun Chandhok, making his return to F1 at team Lotus in place of the dropped Italian Jarno Trulli, will start 21st on the grid.
Champion Red Bull has now seized pole for the last 11 races, 10 of them this season, but its world champion Sebastian Vettel could only manage third spot on the grid at his home race.
Australian Webber posted a time of 1 minute, 30.079 seconds around the 5.1-kilometer Nuerburgring circuit, with Briton Hamilton 0.065 seconds behind in a surprising performance. Vettel, the 2011 points leader, finished a further 82 thousands of a second off the pace.
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso of Spain, winner in Britain earlier this month, qualified fourth.
It was the first time in 15 races that runaway championship leader Vettel, who has an 80-point lead over Webber, was not on the front row.
Hamilton's performance was a shock given the Briton had dismissed his team's chances on Friday after recent disappointing showings.
"I definitely underestimated how good the car would be. It felt fantastic. It was one of the happiest and most comforting laps, I've ever had," the 2008 world champion told a news conference.
The McLarens had a number of upgrades and were boosted by the return to pre-Silverstone engine regulations for this race but few in the paddock thought they could split the Red Bulls.
A bristling Webber, who ignored team orders not to try to overtake Vettel in Britain before very reluctantly relenting, will line up first on the grid for the second straight race and third time this year.
"My form has been getting a little bit better over the last few races. The session went pretty well," Webber said. "The boys did a great job on the car, some pretty late nights in the lead-up."
Vettel, winner of six of nine races so far, put on a brave face before his adoring public.
"Overall there wasn't much missing to Lewis and Mark, the most important thing is I have a much better feeling for the car today," he said at the halfway point of the season.
Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, enduring a miserable return from retirement, just squeezed into the final phase of qualifying with the Mercedes fans in the stands doing their best to roar him on.
The German will start 10th today, with rain expected.
India's Karun Chandhok, making his return to F1 at team Lotus in place of the dropped Italian Jarno Trulli, will start 21st on the grid.
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