Red Bull Sebastian Vettel, who set the fastest times in all practice sessions, topped the timing charts during all three segments of qualifying as well, to give his team its 50th pole in F1, ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
The German stayed in front of his teammate Mark Webber, who turned out to be the only other contender for the top spot on the grid. Third was Nico Hulkenberg, putting a nice bond on a tough season at Sauber. His best result so far has been eighth.
Ferrari's tactics of running in tandem failed, as Felipe Massa settled for fourth, ahead of team leader Fernando Alonso in fifth. Rumours of the Spaniard's discontent with the team are growing.
Nico Rosberg, piloting the only Mercedes in the top 10 shootout, managed a discrete sixth on the grid. His teammate Lewis Hamilton's run of four consecutive poles ended in Q2, with the Briton only 12th after a messy lap, for which he blamed himself. Nevertheless, former friend Adrian Sutil (Force India) did block him, and could be facing a penalty.
Both Mclaren drivers made it to Q3, and eventually Sergio Perez edged teammate Jenson Button with a faster time, leaving the pair eighth and ninth, sandwiched between the two Toro Rossos of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Éric Vergne, who rounds out the top 10.
Despite showing up at Monza with a long wheelbase version of the E21, Lotus could not do any better than 11th and 13th on the grid, with Finn Kimi Raikkonen leading teammate Romain Grosjean.
Giedo van der Garde (Caterham) was fastest at the back of the grid. Teammate Charles Pic also managed to beat Marussia drivers Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton.
Qualifying results* – Italian Grand Prix (Monza)
1.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) – 1’23”755 – Q3
2.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) – 1’23”968 - Q3
3.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) – 1’24”065 – Q3
4.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) – 1’24”132 - Q3
5.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) – 1’24”142 – Q3
6.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) – 1’24”192 - Q3
7.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) – 1’24”209 – Q3
8.Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) – 1’24”502 - Q3
9.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) – 1’24”515 – Q3
10.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) – 1’28”050 - Q3
11.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'24”610 - Q2
12.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'24”803 - Q2
13.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'24”848 - Q2
14.Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'24”932 - Q2
15.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'25”011 - Q2
16.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'25”077 - Q2
17.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'25"226 - Q1
18.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'25"291 - Q1
19.Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'26"406 - Q1
20.Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'26"563 - Q1
21.Jules Bianchi (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'27"085 - Q1
22.Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'27"480 - Q1
*Unofficial timing
The German stayed in front of his teammate Mark Webber, who turned out to be the only other contender for the top spot on the grid. Third was Nico Hulkenberg, putting a nice bond on a tough season at Sauber. His best result so far has been eighth.
Ferrari's tactics of running in tandem failed, as Felipe Massa settled for fourth, ahead of team leader Fernando Alonso in fifth. Rumours of the Spaniard's discontent with the team are growing.
Nico Rosberg, piloting the only Mercedes in the top 10 shootout, managed a discrete sixth on the grid. His teammate Lewis Hamilton's run of four consecutive poles ended in Q2, with the Briton only 12th after a messy lap, for which he blamed himself. Nevertheless, former friend Adrian Sutil (Force India) did block him, and could be facing a penalty.
Both Mclaren drivers made it to Q3, and eventually Sergio Perez edged teammate Jenson Button with a faster time, leaving the pair eighth and ninth, sandwiched between the two Toro Rossos of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Éric Vergne, who rounds out the top 10.
Despite showing up at Monza with a long wheelbase version of the E21, Lotus could not do any better than 11th and 13th on the grid, with Finn Kimi Raikkonen leading teammate Romain Grosjean.
Giedo van der Garde (Caterham) was fastest at the back of the grid. Teammate Charles Pic also managed to beat Marussia drivers Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton.
Qualifying results* – Italian Grand Prix (Monza)
1.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) – 1’23”755 – Q3
2.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) – 1’23”968 - Q3
3.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) – 1’24”065 – Q3
4.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) – 1’24”132 - Q3
5.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) – 1’24”142 – Q3
6.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) – 1’24”192 - Q3
7.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) – 1’24”209 – Q3
8.Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) – 1’24”502 - Q3
9.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) – 1’24”515 – Q3
10.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) – 1’28”050 - Q3
11.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'24”610 - Q2
12.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'24”803 - Q2
13.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'24”848 - Q2
14.Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'24”932 - Q2
15.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'25”011 - Q2
16.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'25”077 - Q2
17.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'25"226 - Q1
18.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'25"291 - Q1
19.Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'26"406 - Q1
20.Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'26"563 - Q1
21.Jules Bianchi (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'27"085 - Q1
22.Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'27"480 - Q1
*Unofficial timing