F1: Vettel on pole but fears linger in Bahrain

Protester found dead ahead of today’s Grand Prix.

MANAMA:

Defending double world champion Sebastian Vettel grabbed his first pole position of 2012 when he planted his Red Bull at the top of the times in qualifying for today’s controversial Bahrain Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old German outpaced McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton by just 0.098 seconds to take the 31st pole of his career following a relatively lacklustre start to the season. The second Red Bull of Mark Webber and Hamilton’s teammate Jenson Button will start on the second row.

“It feels great,” said a relieved Vettel, who had scraped unconvincingly through both Q1 and Q2 before shining in the top-ten shootout. “We are back at the front and I owe it to the guys in the team.”

Hamilton said he was content with second, splitting the Red Bulls and bringing to an end a trio of front row lockouts by a single team - McLaren in both Australia and Malaysia and then Mercedes in China.

Protester found dead

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s opposition reported the first death in protests timed for the race as rising fears prompted tighter security around the circuit.

The body of Salah Abbas Habib, 36, was found in Shakhura village. Witnesses said that security forces fired tear gas and sound bombs to disperse dozens of people who gathered at the area where Habib’s body was found.

Dozens of armoured vehicles were deployed on roads leading to the Sakhir circuit, where the FI race is going ahead despite calls by rights groups to cancel the event due to rising political tensions in the kingdom.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2012.