VALENCIA, Spain: Sebastian Vettel took a third successive pole position for Red Bull after clocking the fastest time during yesterday’s qualifying session for today’s European Grand Prix.
It was the 24-year-old’s third pole of the year and 33rd of his career, equalling F1 legends Alain Prost and Jim Clarke.
After struggling for pace on Friday, pole position looked unlikely for the young German, but a stunning lap toward the end of the final session secured his place on the front row beside second-fastest Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.
Vettel clocked a fastest lap time of one minute 38.086 at the Valencia street circuit, almost half a second faster than Hamilton and third-placed Pastor Maldonado of Williams.
Lotus drivers Frenchman Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen took fourth and fifth ahead of Nico Rosberg of Mercedes.
Kamui Kobayashi was seventh quickest for Sauber followed by Nico Hulkenberg of Williams and Jenson Button in the second McLaren.
Scotsman Paul Di Resta looked set for a top five start but he locked his brakes toward the end of the lap and had to settle for 10th position.
Hamilton leads the drivers’ standings on 88 points from Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who failed to make it into Q3, two points adrift and Vettel lying third on 85 points.
Vettel has won here the last two seasons having set off from pole each time.
