Sebastian Vettel scored his second consecutive pole position of 2013 during a bizarre wet/dry qualifying session for tomorrow’s Malaysian Grand Prix.
The world champion set his fastest lap of 1m49.674s in the closing stages of Q3 on a drying track after pitting for a fresh set of intermediate tyres on his Red Bull.
The Ferraris will line up behind Vettel, with Massa once again qualifying ahead of his teammate Alonso for the fourth race in succession after putting in an impressive lap at the end of Q3, albeit 0.9s from Vettel. This is the Brazilian’s first front row start since Bahrain 2010.
Mark Webber split the two Mercedes’ in fifth despite seeming during the early stages of the session he could repeat his 2010 pole position. The silver cars finished fourth and sixth, once again showing the potential for pole in the hands of Hamilton and Rosberg, with the Brit staking his claim for the top spot with a 1m51.699 and the German setting the pace in Q2.
Kimi Raikkonen qualified his Lotus down in seventh ahead of Jenson Button’s McLaren which showed improved pace this weekend. But the Finn was pushed down to 10th for blocking Rosberg. Adrian Sutil continued his impressive return to action by putting the Force India in ninth, with the second McLaren of Sergio Perez rounding out the top-ten.
An unexpected rain shower was the surprise of Q2 and caught a number of drivers out, most notably Romain Grosjean and Paul di Resta who spun twice after pushing hard to make it through to Q3; the Frenchman and the Scot will line up 11th and 15th respectively.
Further down the grid, Williams’ weekend worsened with Pastor Maldonado failing to set a time in Q2, which put the Venezuelan down in 16th. Teammate Valtteri Bottas once again failed make much of the hype surrounding him as he dropped out in Q3 after finishing 18th and was almost outpaced by the impressive Jules Bianchi’s Marussia, which sits almost 0.2 seconds behind.
Bianchi’s compatriot Charles Pic was the best of the Caterhams in 20th ahead of Marussia’s Max Chilton. Giedo van der Garde props up the grid in the sister Caterham in 22nd and final spot.
Qualifying results* – Malaysian Grand Prix (Kuala Lampur)
1.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) – 1’49”674 – Q3
2.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) – 1’50”587 – Q3
3.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) – 1’50”727 – Q3
4.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) – 1’51”699 – Q3
5.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) – 1’52”244 – Q3
6.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) – 1’52”519 – Q3
7.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) – 1’53”175 – Q3
8.Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) – 1’53”439 – Q3
9.Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) – 1’54”136 – Q3
10.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) – 1’52”970 – Q3**
11.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) – 1’37”636 – Q2
12.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) – 1’38”125 – Q2
13.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) – 1’38”822 – Q2
14.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) – 1’39”221 – Q2
15.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) – 1’44”509 – Q2
16.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) – no time – Q2
17.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) – 1’38”157 – Q1
18.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) – 1’38”207 – Q1
19.Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) – 1’38”434 – Q1
20.Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) – 1’39”314 – Q1
21.Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) – 1’39”672 – Q1
22.Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) – 1’39”932 – Q1
*Unofficial
** Penalised
The world champion set his fastest lap of 1m49.674s in the closing stages of Q3 on a drying track after pitting for a fresh set of intermediate tyres on his Red Bull.
 |
| Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB9 (Photo: WRi2) |
The Ferraris will line up behind Vettel, with Massa once again qualifying ahead of his teammate Alonso for the fourth race in succession after putting in an impressive lap at the end of Q3, albeit 0.9s from Vettel. This is the Brazilian’s first front row start since Bahrain 2010.
 |
| Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F138 (Photo: WRi2) |
Mark Webber split the two Mercedes’ in fifth despite seeming during the early stages of the session he could repeat his 2010 pole position. The silver cars finished fourth and sixth, once again showing the potential for pole in the hands of Hamilton and Rosberg, with the Brit staking his claim for the top spot with a 1m51.699 and the German setting the pace in Q2.
 |
| Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W04 (Photo: WRi2) |
Kimi Raikkonen qualified his Lotus down in seventh ahead of Jenson Button’s McLaren which showed improved pace this weekend. But the Finn was pushed down to 10th for blocking Rosberg. Adrian Sutil continued his impressive return to action by putting the Force India in ninth, with the second McLaren of Sergio Perez rounding out the top-ten.
An unexpected rain shower was the surprise of Q2 and caught a number of drivers out, most notably Romain Grosjean and Paul di Resta who spun twice after pushing hard to make it through to Q3; the Frenchman and the Scot will line up 11th and 15th respectively.
 |
| Romain Grosjean, Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2) |
Further down the grid, Williams’ weekend worsened with Pastor Maldonado failing to set a time in Q2, which put the Venezuelan down in 16th. Teammate Valtteri Bottas once again failed make much of the hype surrounding him as he dropped out in Q3 after finishing 18th and was almost outpaced by the impressive Jules Bianchi’s Marussia, which sits almost 0.2 seconds behind.
Bianchi’s compatriot Charles Pic was the best of the Caterhams in 20th ahead of Marussia’s Max Chilton. Giedo van der Garde props up the grid in the sister Caterham in 22nd and final spot.
Qualifying results* – Malaysian Grand Prix (Kuala Lampur)
1.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) – 1’49”674 – Q3
2.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) – 1’50”587 – Q3
3.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) – 1’50”727 – Q3
4.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) – 1’51”699 – Q3
5.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) – 1’52”244 – Q3
6.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) – 1’52”519 – Q3
7.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) – 1’53”175 – Q3
8.Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) – 1’53”439 – Q3
9.Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) – 1’54”136 – Q3
10.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) – 1’52”970 – Q3**
11.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) – 1’37”636 – Q2
12.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) – 1’38”125 – Q2
13.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) – 1’38”822 – Q2
14.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) – 1’39”221 – Q2
15.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) – 1’44”509 – Q2
16.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) – no time – Q2
17.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) – 1’38”157 – Q1
18.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) – 1’38”207 – Q1
19.Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) – 1’38”434 – Q1
20.Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) – 1’39”314 – Q1
21.Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) – 1’39”672 – Q1
22.Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) – 1’39”932 – Q1
*Unofficial
** Penalised