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Indian GP: Sebastian Vettel takes pole for all Red Bull front row

By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer in Noida

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments75

Sebastian Vettel led team-mate Mark Webber to a Red Bull one-two in qualifying for the Indian Grand Prix.

McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were third and fourth ahead of the Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.

Vettel was 0.044 seconds faster than Webber, Hamilton 0.261secs adrift of pole.

Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen, third in the championship behind Vettel and Alonso, was seventh.

Sauber's Sergio Perez was eighth, ahead of the Williams of Pastor Maldonado and Nico Rosberg's Mercedes.

Michael Schumacher was 14th in his fourth last F1 qualifying session - he was behind Lotus's Romain Grosjean, Force India's Nico Hulkenberg and Williams driver Bruno Senna and was 0.6secs slower than team-mate Rosberg.

"I made a mistake on my first run so we only had one set of tyres left but I was pretty happy with the [final] lap," said Vettel. "It has been a great weekend so far, no problems with the car. We need to keep pushing; we have a lot of important races to go but the best chance of doing well is to focus on every single step.

He added: "You know that a lot of things can happen in the race. I am very happy to be on pole but there is a hard race coming tomorrow. We had a bit of a surprise on Friday on the long runs, everyone was quite close, so we'll see what that means with strategy tomorrow."

The margins at the front were not as great as expected, with Webber closer to Vettel than he had been for most of the weekend and the McLarens likewise closer to the Red Bulls.

"The lap itself wasn't too bad," said Webber. "I got onto the Astroturf at the last corner so it wasn't the smoothest run to the finish line, but I'm driving the car.

"Then I didn't get to do my final lap, the McLarens were doing very slow out-laps so I didn't get my second lap. I had no front grip at the start of my lap so it was finished. So I was surprised to end up second - I'll take that."

Alonso appeared to have the potential to sneak onto the second row, but a wheel locked on his entry to Turn Four on his final qualifying lap and he failed to improve on the time he set on his first run earlier in the top 10 shoot-out.

But he said that he was already down on his best time before that incident, and that he had been struggling to get the best out of the tyres on their first lap. He added that he did not think he would have been able to out-qualify the McLarens.

Third-placed Hamilton said: "We're not quick enough to be ahead of these guys but we can definitely challenge them in the race. Our race pace was just as good as theirs in practice so I'm excited about that."

It was the third consecutive front-row lock-out for Red Bull, who are in imperious form following a series of car upgrades that started at the Singapore Grand Prix four races ago.

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75 comments

  • Comment posted by User0199266750, at 22:44 27 Oct 2012

    @miffbybun2011

    "Adrian Newey is a bloody genius. I wish he was going to Mercedes with LH!!"

    Adrian Newey is not a fool to join a team with such a bad, inconsistent driver like Hamilton! Like Schumacher Vettel is staying the whole night with his engineers to work on the problems the car has produced during the race. At the same time drivers like Hamilton are celebrating a party somewhere . . .

  • Comment posted by Baldeep, at 20:27 27 Oct 2012

    Vettel is showing the rest that his confidence is growing. A win in India will make the rest lose any hope they have left. He's getting closer to the title and showing the rest that another German can win 3 championships in a row.

  • Comment posted by straight talker, at 20:08 27 Oct 2012

    @4 The whole Jenson love-in interview with DC & JH was pathetic and a stark contrast with the usual negative focused questions again for Lewis who is forced to talk to Lee McKenzie.

    She had no interest in Lewis qualifying 3rd and just wanted to talk about a difficult start to quali.

  • Comment posted by Uncle_D, at 23:41 27 Oct 2012

    Seb would be crazy to leave Red Bull at the end of 2013. At this rate, as long as he sticks with Newey, he has the possibility to eclipse even Schumacher's record - & I'm not talking Ralph here!! If he continues in this form he will soon have his 3rd WDC in as many years and he still has many before him.

  • Comment posted by Sportsmad19, at 23:34 27 Oct 2012

    It's excellent to see the title contenders in the top seven slots on the grid. While it looks like the Red Bulls could easily pull away, I hope it will be an exciting race tomorrow.

  • Comment posted by CoolKev, at 19:52 27 Oct 2012

    @2 That goes without saying really.

    But at least in the post-interview JB was modest enough to admit in his own words that his quali lap wasn't as amazing as Lewis' despite being egged on by the beeb presenters. That point of confession was when I spilt my coffee all over my keyboard. lol!!

    Yep - I think JB is slowly maturing and becoming a man. Despite the best efforts of spinsters DC and JH.

  • Comment posted by straight talker, at 20:18 27 Oct 2012

    I had to crack a smile at that pained look on Whitmarshs face when he watched Lewis pop ahead of Jenson right at the end of quali and before anybody comes back to try and explain that away as disappointment with not beating the Redbulls, Whitmarsh already knew they were way out of reach today.

  • Comment posted by User0199266750, at 11:25 28 Oct 2012

    @49 Mike 123

    "Average driver = Good Driver
    Good Driver = Great Driver"

    I agree! Vettel is a great driver and Alonso is a good driver!

    Take a look on the records from Seb. He is breaking one record after another and it speaks for his consistency and Mark by the way is not that bad as the Ferraris are not that bad as well. But I have to agree that Alonso today was brilliant.

  • Comment posted by straight talker, at 20:55 27 Oct 2012

    Hamilton himself is hinting that there is something funny about the reliability of his car.

    Last time out he spoke about the failures "from my side of the garage" and today he said "hopefully without any rear bar issues and car issues we can stay in the fight".

    He's making a clear statement that he's concerned about the reliability of his car!!! which of course was overlooked by the BBC.

  • Comment posted by CoolKev, at 21:05 27 Oct 2012

    @15 Yep! I guess why they call you "Straight Talker" ;)

    Just watched the recorded part of the interview with Lee where Lewis smiles n hints at rear "bar issues" and car "issues". He kept his cool and was diplomatic right thru - much to Mckenzie's disappointment im sure. hehe.

    Which is why I much prefer viewing SKY F1. Much fairer and objective in their appraisals.

    So love Georgie too! haha! ;)

  • Comment posted by straight talker, at 20:34 27 Oct 2012

    @8 IMHO the BBC have a cosy arrangement with Jenson and have agreed that if he gives them plenty of interviews they will in return brief against Hamilton whilst sweeping his difficulties under the carpet.

    Both JB & LH were up and down in laptimes during quali but the commentators are always quick to highlight any slow time or lock up for Hamilton only and totally ignored Buttons slow laps.

  • Comment posted by CoolKev, at 20:42 27 Oct 2012

    Yep! I noticed that too in Q2! When Lewis off pace and only 9th the reaction was to paraphrase "Oh my god! whats happening to Lewis...hes only 9th and in danger of being in the knock-out zone!!" It was comical to listen to really, because less than 30secs later Lewis clocked 2nd place and NOTHING was said of Jensons 10th spot! lol!! :D

    I dont blame Jenson so much - its the Beebs commentators.

  • Comment posted by User0740146135, at 11:33 28 Oct 2012

    Its not about the car all who say Alonso deserves the title are haters for red bull,look what the maclaren guys are doing struggling but they have a better car,Vettel is a good driver and now just need to finish ahead of Alonso in every race and he will be triple champion,well done Vettel.

  • Comment posted by User0217084971, at 01:09 28 Oct 2012

    @20

    Is being a proven liar to the stewards a couple of years back also the sign of a man.

    The fact is, throughout his career, Lewis Hamilton has shown immaturity both on the track and off it.

    He's a very good driver, not a great one however - but still noticeably immature and at times petulant.

  • Comment posted by CoolKev, at 20:20 27 Oct 2012

    @6 we all know the Beeb n Mckenzie favours JB over Lewis. You cant really blame LH for refusing 2give interviews to DC, MB, n JH. They're all irrationally prejudiced in their opinions of Hamilton's true talent and its a bane in their lives 2have to admit any element if his superior performance over JB.

    Take comfort that Lewis' talent is acknowledged - Globally. Hes hated because he's Exceptional!

  • Comment posted by SinophilinSpain, at 08:03 28 Oct 2012

    @~33.
    kc_chiefs
    What a sad, jealous person you must be to hate Hamilton so much, or is it just your racist inclination? Both Hamilton and Button did brilliantly yesterday to qualify, what are relatively uncompetitive cars, in 3rd and 4th, ahead of the Ferraris. It takes a great driver to get the best out of a poor car, which is something Alonso acknowledged that. .

  • Comment posted by MRK, at 12:45 28 Oct 2012

    Hope this mind game of Alonso vs Newey does not have any effect on Red Bull or their drivers; as they are matured and intelligent enough to understand this is a silly mind game. All the alternator failure, KERS faiure, gear box problem is in the same Red Bull car which Alonso claims to be racing with. There is a compromise between speed and reliability. McLaren is a classic example of that.

  • Comment posted by Funky, at 08:28 28 Oct 2012

    @33 Of course Mclaren could never have played no part in it themselves. They got 50 million fine for nicking stuff from Ferrari, i suppose Hamilton was to balme for that as well :)

  • Comment posted by User0199266750, at 10:47 28 Oct 2012

    @46 Mike123

    " The feeling i have is that the Red Bull Car makes a good driver look like a great driver due to pace and performance."

    To follow your logic please explain why Mark Webber is actually 12 seconds behind Vettel? Is Mark Webber driving a Ferrari or a Mc Laren?

  • Comment posted by SinophilinSpain, at 22:12 28 Oct 2012

    I can't really see Alonso winning the championship; his driving was a bit ragged at times under pressure; he almost threw it off the track at one point. Seb will continue to increase the pressure over the next few races and will almost certainly become the youngest ever triple world champion.

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