Vettel takes pole at European GP

Teammate Webber to start second, outpacing Hamilton.

VALENCIA:

World champion Sebastian Vettel will start from pole position in today’s Formula One European Grand Prix after the Red Bull driver emerged fastest in qualifying.

The 23-year-old German was the only man to clock a lap in less than one minute and 37 seconds as he outpaced teammate Australian Mark Webber to take his 22nd pole spot. Webber is the only other driver in this year’s eight qualifying sessions to have claimed a pole position start.

Vettel made clear he could carry this boost to his confidence into today’s race to erase the disappointment of his last-lap mistake costing him victory in Canada two weeks ago.

“It’s a very good day for us,” he said. “Both cars on the front row is just what we wanted. This has been a great result for us - just what we wanted and what we need for tomorrow.”

Webber said that he could not wait for the race to get underway after his final lap charge lifted him up the grid to the front row leaving Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren on third. Two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari rests back on fourth place ahead of his teammate Felipe Massa.

Hamilton’s McLaren teammate and fellow Briton Jenson Button was sixth ahead of German Nico Rosberg.





Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2011.