Vettel races to record-equalling pole at Yas Marina

Draws level with Mansell, Hamilton; starts second on the grid.

YAS MARINA/ABU DHABI:

Double world champion Sebastian Vettel equalled Nigel Mansell’s record when he delivered a stunning fastest lap to secure pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old German steered his Red Bull car round the Yas Marina circuit in dazzling fashion to create a dramatic finale and steal pole from Lewis Hamilton, who will start second on the grid alongside him for today’s 55-laps day-night race.

It was Vettel’s 14th pole this year and the 29th of his career, in his 80th Grand Prix. Briton Mansell reeled off his record 14 poles in a single season with the Williams team in his drivers’ title winning year of 1992. Vettel admitted that he was not completely satisfied with his car’s performance during the practice session on Friday.

“I wasn’t very happy with the car on Friday,” said Vettel. “We thought there was more performance in the car, but we couldn’t really get to it.

“This afternoon was quite a bit better, but this place is tricky in many ways. In this qualifying, I had a much better feeling, especially on the soft tyres.”

Hamilton said he was happy with his overall performance over the two days.

“It’s a big improvement for me from the last race,” he said. “We were quick in qualifying. The car is feeling good. Just at the end, that was as fast as I was able to go on that lap. It was not particularly great.”

Hamilton was second quickest ahead of his English compatriot and McLaren teammate Jenson Button, with Australian Mark Webber fourth in the second Red Bull.

Two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso qualified fifth ahead of his Ferrari team-mate Brazilian Felipe Massa.

The two Mercedes of Germans Nico Rosberg and seven-time champion Michael Schumacher were seventh and eighth ahead of the Force India drivers German Adrian Sutil and British rookie Paul Di Resta.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2011.