Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) edged in front of the McLaren drivers to take a record 14th pole this season. The feat had first been achieved in 1992 by Williams' Nigel Mansell.
Once more, the world champion proved he is not champion for nothing. He had to pull a rabbit out of his helmet on Saturday to score the pole, since the McLaren's showed genuine speed in free practice. Lewis Hamilton was closest to him and will therefore start alongside the German, on the first row. Jenson Button had to settle for 3rd, but at least did beat Vettel's team-mate, Mark Webber. The Australian lines up fourth.
It was a tough day in the office for Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, who unlike the McLaren drivers, never appeared to stand a chance against Red Bull. They only start fifth and sixth respectively.
Rounding out the top 10 are the Mercedes and Force India driver pairings, in an expected order. Nico Rosberg once again beat a Michael Schumacher still looking for qualifying pace, and Adrian Sutil earned ninth, but only because team-mate Paul di Resta decided to sit the session out.
Among the other drivers, Rubens Barrichello and Pastor Maldonado stand out from the rest. However not for good reasons. An oil leaked hindered Barrichello's run in Free Practice 3, and even forced him to watch qualifying from the sidelines. Surprising but true, he managed to beat his team-mate without turning a wheel.
Pastro Maldonado set the 17th fastest lap, but while using his ninth engine of the season. He was therefore handed a 10-place grid penalty, since he breached the engine limit rule. Which explains why only starts 24th.
Qualifying results – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Row 1
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'38"481 – Q3
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'38"622 – Q3
Row 2
Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'38"631 – Q3
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'38"858 – Q3
Row 3
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari 150) - 1'39"058 – Q3
Felipe Massa (Ferrari 150) - 1'39"695 – Q3
Row 4
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'39"773 – Q3
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'40"662 – Q3
Row 5
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) – 1’40”768 – Q
Paul di Resta (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) – No time – Q3
Row 6
Sergio Perez (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'40"874 – Q2
Vitaly Petrov (Renault R31) - 1'40"919 – Q2
Row 7
Sébastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR6-Ferrari) - 1'41"009 – Q2
Bruno Senna (Renault R31) - 1'41"079 – Q2
Row 8
Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR6-Ferrari) - 1'41"162 – Q2
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'41"240 – Q2
Row 9
Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'42"979 – Q1
Jarno Trulli (Lotus T128-Renault) – 1’43”884 – Q1
Row 10
Timo Glock (Virgin VR02-Cosworth) - 1'44"515 – Q1
Daniel Ricciardo (Hispania F111-Cosworth) - 1'44"641 – Q1
Row 11
Jérôme d'Ambrosio (Virgin VR02-Cosworth) - 1'44"699 – Q1
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Hispania F111-Cosworth) - 1'45"159 – Q1
Row 12
Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW33-Cosworth) – No time – Q1
Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'41"760 – Q2 *
*10-place grid penalty
Once more, the world champion proved he is not champion for nothing. He had to pull a rabbit out of his helmet on Saturday to score the pole, since the McLaren's showed genuine speed in free practice. Lewis Hamilton was closest to him and will therefore start alongside the German, on the first row. Jenson Button had to settle for 3rd, but at least did beat Vettel's team-mate, Mark Webber. The Australian lines up fourth.
It was a tough day in the office for Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, who unlike the McLaren drivers, never appeared to stand a chance against Red Bull. They only start fifth and sixth respectively.
Rounding out the top 10 are the Mercedes and Force India driver pairings, in an expected order. Nico Rosberg once again beat a Michael Schumacher still looking for qualifying pace, and Adrian Sutil earned ninth, but only because team-mate Paul di Resta decided to sit the session out.
Among the other drivers, Rubens Barrichello and Pastor Maldonado stand out from the rest. However not for good reasons. An oil leaked hindered Barrichello's run in Free Practice 3, and even forced him to watch qualifying from the sidelines. Surprising but true, he managed to beat his team-mate without turning a wheel.
Pastro Maldonado set the 17th fastest lap, but while using his ninth engine of the season. He was therefore handed a 10-place grid penalty, since he breached the engine limit rule. Which explains why only starts 24th.
Qualifying results – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Row 1
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'38"481 – Q3
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'38"622 – Q3
Row 2
Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'38"631 – Q3
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'38"858 – Q3
Row 3
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari 150) - 1'39"058 – Q3
Felipe Massa (Ferrari 150) - 1'39"695 – Q3
Row 4
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'39"773 – Q3
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'40"662 – Q3
Row 5
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) – 1’40”768 – Q
Paul di Resta (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) – No time – Q3
Row 6
Sergio Perez (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'40"874 – Q2
Vitaly Petrov (Renault R31) - 1'40"919 – Q2
Row 7
Sébastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR6-Ferrari) - 1'41"009 – Q2
Bruno Senna (Renault R31) - 1'41"079 – Q2
Row 8
Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR6-Ferrari) - 1'41"162 – Q2
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'41"240 – Q2
Row 9
Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'42"979 – Q1
Jarno Trulli (Lotus T128-Renault) – 1’43”884 – Q1
Row 10
Timo Glock (Virgin VR02-Cosworth) - 1'44"515 – Q1
Daniel Ricciardo (Hispania F111-Cosworth) - 1'44"641 – Q1
Row 11
Jérôme d'Ambrosio (Virgin VR02-Cosworth) - 1'44"699 – Q1
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Hispania F111-Cosworth) - 1'45"159 – Q1
Row 12
Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW33-Cosworth) – No time – Q1
Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'41"760 – Q2 *
*10-place grid penalty