Formula One news

Vettel delighted with unexpected pole

Sebastian Vettel was both happy and surprised to have taken pole position in Turkey, heading the grid for the first time since the Chinese Grand Prix for Round 3. The German recovered from an engine problem on Friday to take the top spot, ahead of Jenson Button's Brawn by 0.105 seconds.

"We will try our best to keep this statistic alive but it won't be easy," said the pole man, who has qualified in the top three places at every race of 2009 apart from Monaco. "We have a very good chance here, a very good car. I expected more difficulties in qualifying but we made it; this is just half way and the main task for us comes tomorrow. It is a long race, very tough, it won't be an easy one - it will be exciting so let's see!"

Turkey 2009 marks the third pole position of Sebastian Vettel's 33-race F1 career

With this being Sebastian's second pole of the year after China, how does he rate his chances of staying ahead of the Brawn cars on the run into Turn 1? "I think in China I was confident but it didn't help at all because the day after it was raining," he continued. "It was a good race for us obviously, with the conditions, but we could not show how good we could have been in the dry.

"Tomorrow should be (dry) so let's see how we get on tomorrow - we have done our homework so far but the main demands come tomorrow when we have to race 58 laps around here."

more news

• 28 Nov.
  • Lola ready to enter Formula 1
  • Raikkonen close to Citroen WRC deal
  • Tung looking for 'useful' test
• 27 Nov.
  • Montreal seals Formula One contract
  • GPUpdate TV: Domenicali - high hopes for 2010
  • Jerez test: The cast
  • Wurz plays down USF1 link
  • Renault to test Baguette, Tung and Di Grassi
  • Alonso makes second visit to Ferrari
  • Force India confirms Sutil and Liuzzi
  • All new teams now FOTA members
  • Sauber buys team back from BMW
  • De la Rosa pushing for race drive
  • Ecclestone: I won't buy Donington
  • Haug becomes part of F1 in Schools
  • Volkswagen to provide F1 engines?
• 26 Nov.
  • Alguersuari: 2010 contract is signed
  • Conway and Ericsson to test for Mercedes
  • 4 driver options left for Lotus
  • 'F1 in need of Schumacher return' - Verstappen
• 25 Nov.
  • 'Fantastic opportunity' - Di Resta on Force India test
  • Recap: N.Technology court bid fails
  • BMW testers excited about Jerez
  • Brawn disappointed with Button drives, ponders Lauda
  • Piquet to drive in Massa kart race
  • Brawn aero chief wins award
  • Gillett disappointed with government position
  • Mercedes hopes to confirm line-up by Christmas
• 24 Nov.
  • Briatore verdict expected in January
  • Donington still hopeful over F1 race
  • Montreal race confirmation imminent
  • Massa names drivers for karting event
  • Campos car passes FIA safety tests
  • Strong test could seal drive, says Mallya
  • Force India to test di Resta and Hildebrand
  • Courts to hear Briatore case
  • Silverstone GP deal forthcoming
• 23 Nov.
  • GPUpdate TV: Sam Michael - building on 2009
  • Theissen waiting on entry decision
  • Mercedes delighted with Rosberg confirmation

Homepage