Formula One news
Vettel on pole for Red Bull
18 April 2009 / Results / PhotosSebastian Vettel has claimed the first ever pole position for the Red Bull Racing team in China, and starts Sunday's Grand Prix ahead of a rejuvenated Fernando Alonso for Renault. The second Red Bull of Mark Webber is third with Rubens Barrichello the first Brawn car in fourth. Jenson Button fails to claim his hattrick of poles, and will be starting from fifth.
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| Kubica finished a highly disappointing 18th |
Vettel drove just eleven laps in the qualifying hour and timed his run perfectly to take the second pole position of his career, having also done so for Toro Rosso at Monza last year. Alonso finished two tenths slower than the German with a Renault now carrying a double diffuser, and starts on the front row for the first time since Spain last year.
Crowds in the relatively quiet grandstands of Shanghai were treated to the best weather of the weekend so far, with temperatures rising to highs of 24°C (75°F). Both Force India cars, despite strong Friday times from Sutil, were eliminated in the first 20-minute phase of qualifying, and will be starting behind Bourdais, Piquet and a very disappointed Robert Kubica whose run was badly timed; the Pole finished his worse ever qualifying session to end up 18th for BMW.
The next big surprise came as Timo Glock was eliminated from Q2, qualifying a lowly 14th for Toyota although the German will be starting 19th on the grid as a result of a 5-place grid penalty for a gearbox change. Heidfeld, Kovalainen and Felipe Massa's Ferrari are infront of him, as the Brazilian pitted on his last lap with no belief of making the top ten. Kazuki Nakajima's Williams rounded out the second session and starts 15th.
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| No third pole for Brawn, with Jenson Button in fifth |
There were a number of surprises heading into the final 10-minute shootout with both Brawn and Red Bull cars up against the expected Trulli and Rosberg, with the three World Champions all driving well to make Q3. Sébastien Buemi shone, however, taking his Toro Rosso through to the final round as he qualified tenth on the Medium compound tyres. An improved McLaren, sporting a new front wing and diffuser, allowed Hamilton to join the Swiss newcomer on the fifth row, and also qualifies in the top ten for the first time this season.
A top five had been expected for Nico Rosberg after the Williams wound up at the top of final practice, although the German could only manage the best side of row four ahead of Kimi Räikkönen, who has now outqualifed team-mate Massa 2-1. After Glock's disaster, Jarno Trulli lead Toyota's charge to plant the red and white car sixth on the grid.
Having taken two poles from two races, the Brawn GP team falls back off the front row in China as Jenson Button will be starting from fifth position, behind his team-mate for the first time in 2009. It will be interesting, however, to examine the weights of the cars which are to be released by the FIA later this afternoon -
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could it be that the Brawns are carrying a heavier fuel load to start? On the other hand, they have done so in the first two races in which they still took the top spot on the grid.
At the front, Vettel stormed to pole in the dying moments of the session with Alonso's rapid first sector time allowing the Spaniard to make the front row for Renault, dispite not using KERS. Mark Webber, who was looking to take his first pole, ensures two Red Bull cars start in the top three places.
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