Invincible Vettel storms to pole
World champion Sebastien Vettel stormed to pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix in a thrilling qualifying session yesterday as Red Bull’s misfiring power-boost system finally came good.
The German ace narrowly beat McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton by just over one-tenth of a second in the session’s dying moments, with Vettel’s Red Bull teammate Mark Webber third and Jenson Button (McLaren) fourth.
Hamilton had set the best time with some audacious driving, before Vettel – who claimed last month’s season-opener from pole – snatched top spot with one minute 34.870 seconds. Vettel also credited the Kinetic Energy Regeneration System (KERS) which had been a cause of concern after Red Bull opted not to use it at the last race in Melbourne.
“We got criticism last time for not running the KERS and we came here and solved most of our problems,” said the 23-year-old. “I think if we did not have it today then we would not be here. It is a great achievement, compliments to those guys in the team.”
‘Ferrari not quick enough’
Meanwhile, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso warned his Ferrari car was simply ‘not quick enough’ after another disappointing showing in the qualifying.
Alonso, who qualified fifth on the grid, said Ferrari’s 150 degrees Italia car lagged Red Bull and McLaren in aerodynamics.
“The car is not quick enough,” said the Spaniard. “These days aerodynamics are 90 per cent of the performance of the car so I think that’s one area that we need to analyse better.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2011.
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