Vettel races to pole number 13

Hamilton finishes 2nd, Webber 3rd in Indian GP qualifying.

GREATER NOIDA:

World champion Sebastian Vettel raced to his 13th pole position of the season in a dramatic qualifying session for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old German clocked one minute and 24.178 seconds to outstrip McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber at the Buddh International Circuit. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was fourth with McLaren’s Jenson Button finishing fifth. But Felipe Massa was a casualty seconds from the finish when his right front wheel was knocked askew by a kerb and his Ferrari ploughed into a barrier nose-first.

Hamilton will also be forced to drop three places back on the grid in a penalty handed out on Friday for ignoring warning flags. Despite the pole, Vettel was not entirely satisfied with his performance.

“My lap wasn’t 100% but you always get out of the car thinking that,” he said. “It’s going to be an interesting race and it’s good to start it from the front.”

Vettel led the drivers into the 10-minute final session and was never headed as he neared Nigel Mansell’s 1992 record of 14 pole positions in a season. Victory today will also keep Vettel on course to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of 13 wins in a season. Vettel so far has 10 wins this season.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2011.