Alonso edges Vettel to take Singapore pole

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso storms to pole position for the high-stakes Singapore Grand Prix.

SINGAPORE: Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso stormed to pole position for the high-stakes Singapore Grand Prix, edging Sebastian Vettel to give his world championship hopes another timely boost.

It was a crucial drive by the Spaniard, with the front row of the grid likely to be decisive on the Marina Bay street circuit where overtaking is possible, but difficult.

He convincingly outpaced his title rivals under floodlights with a blistering lap of one minute and 45.39 seconds, which was enough to beat Red Bull’s Vettel into second place.

Lewis Hamilton and his McLaren teammate Jenson Button will start on the second row after finishing third and fourth, respectively.

It was Alonso’s second pole in a row and followed his victory in Monza at the last Grand Prix, coming at a crucial stage of the season with just five races to go in a tight championship year.

There are five drivers still in contention for the title, making this race hugely important.

Australian Mark Webber leads on 187 points, five ahead of Britain’s Hamilton, with Alonso third on 166.

Defending world champion Button is still in the hunt with 164 points, while Germany’s Vettel is fifth, a point further adrift.

“I was happy with my lap and got 100 percent out of the car today,” said Alonso, who will be gunning for his 25th victory on Sunday.

“It’s going to be a tough race but we are in the best position. At the moment Lewis and Mark are ahead in championship so the target is to finish in front of them, or at least not lose points to them.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2010.