Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) put an end to Red Bull's domination in qualifying this season by capturing pole position at the Korean Grand Prix. Although, Hamilton shared little of his joy with the public.
Hamilton's boss, Martin Withmarsh, took his driver's defense. According to McLaren's team principal, each driver celebrates in his own style. He also pointed out that Hamilton prefers to focus on the race.
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), who has celebrated many pole positions this year, lines up beside the Brit in second position.
The German's 15th front row start of the season was threatened however, when the stewards initiated an investigation regarding his out-lap. Racing the clock, Vettel took a shortcut between Turn 4 and Turn 6. It was finally decided there would be no penalty, which is what Jenson Button (McLaren), lining up third, had hoped for.
"I am pretty happy being P3," he said. "I can't be P1 as Lewis has done a better job than me and he is P1, so being P3 is probably the second best place."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso declared, despite his poor showing in qualifying that he retained high hopes of victory. After being out-qualified by Felipe Massa in Suzuka, he starts once more behind the Brazilian.
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Vitaly Petrov (Lotus-Renault) and Paul di Resta (Force India), just like Massa, all had the upper hand over their high-praised team-mates. The young trio fills up 7th, 8th and 9th spot.
11th, Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso), figures he can still score some points, even though he failed to make it to Q3. The stakes are high as the 21-year-old starts alongside Formula 1's elder statement, Michael Schumacher (Mercedes). If the German is only 12th, it is down to a vibration issue he says.
Heikki Kovalainen (Team Lotus) is down in 20th, but he insists his performance in qualifying was his best this year.
Two grid spots behind the Finn, is Belgium's Jérôme d'Ambrosio, still wondering how his Virgin team-mate Timo Glock pulled a 1.4s margin over him. Nevertheless, he vows to give his best during the race.
At HRT, Vitantonio Liuzzi bested his young counter-part, but with no surprises. Daniel Ricciardo didn't turn a single lap in qualifying because of technical issues.
Source: Autosport.com
Qualifying results – Korean Grand Prix (Yeongam)
Row 1
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'35"820 – Q3
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'36"042 – Q3
Row 2
Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'36"126 – Q3
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'36"468 – Q3
Row 3
Felipe Massa (Ferrari 150) - 1'36"831 – Q3
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari 150) - 1'36"980 – Q3
Row 4
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'37"754 – Q3
Vitaly Petrov (Renault R31) - 1'38"124 – Q3
Row 5
Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - no time – Q3
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - no time – Q3
Row 6
Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR6-Ferrari) - 1'38"315 – Q2
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'38"354 – Q2
Row 7
Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR6-Ferrari) - 1'38"508 – Q2
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'38"775 – Q2
Row 8
Bruno Senna (Renault R31) - 1'38"791 – Q2
Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'39"189 – Q2
Row 9
Sergio Perez (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'39"443 – Q2
Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'39"538 – Q1
Row 10
Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'40"522 – Q1
Jarno Trulli (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'41"101 – Q1
Row 11
Timo Glock (Virgin VR02-Cosworth) - 1'42"091 – Q1
Jérôme d'Ambrosio (Virgin VR02-Cosworth) - 1'43"483 – Q1
Row 12
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Hispania F111-Cosworth) - 1'43"758 – Q1
Daniel Ricciardo (Hispania F111-Cosworth) - no time - Q1
Hamilton's boss, Martin Withmarsh, took his driver's defense. According to McLaren's team principal, each driver celebrates in his own style. He also pointed out that Hamilton prefers to focus on the race.
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), who has celebrated many pole positions this year, lines up beside the Brit in second position.
The German's 15th front row start of the season was threatened however, when the stewards initiated an investigation regarding his out-lap. Racing the clock, Vettel took a shortcut between Turn 4 and Turn 6. It was finally decided there would be no penalty, which is what Jenson Button (McLaren), lining up third, had hoped for.
"I am pretty happy being P3," he said. "I can't be P1 as Lewis has done a better job than me and he is P1, so being P3 is probably the second best place."
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso declared, despite his poor showing in qualifying that he retained high hopes of victory. After being out-qualified by Felipe Massa in Suzuka, he starts once more behind the Brazilian.
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Vitaly Petrov (Lotus-Renault) and Paul di Resta (Force India), just like Massa, all had the upper hand over their high-praised team-mates. The young trio fills up 7th, 8th and 9th spot.
11th, Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso), figures he can still score some points, even though he failed to make it to Q3. The stakes are high as the 21-year-old starts alongside Formula 1's elder statement, Michael Schumacher (Mercedes). If the German is only 12th, it is down to a vibration issue he says.
Heikki Kovalainen (Team Lotus) is down in 20th, but he insists his performance in qualifying was his best this year.
Two grid spots behind the Finn, is Belgium's Jérôme d'Ambrosio, still wondering how his Virgin team-mate Timo Glock pulled a 1.4s margin over him. Nevertheless, he vows to give his best during the race.
At HRT, Vitantonio Liuzzi bested his young counter-part, but with no surprises. Daniel Ricciardo didn't turn a single lap in qualifying because of technical issues.
Source: Autosport.com
Qualifying results – Korean Grand Prix (Yeongam)
Row 1
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'35"820 – Q3
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'36"042 – Q3
Row 2
Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'36"126 – Q3
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'36"468 – Q3
Row 3
Felipe Massa (Ferrari 150) - 1'36"831 – Q3
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari 150) - 1'36"980 – Q3
Row 4
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'37"754 – Q3
Vitaly Petrov (Renault R31) - 1'38"124 – Q3
Row 5
Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - no time – Q3
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - no time – Q3
Row 6
Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR6-Ferrari) - 1'38"315 – Q2
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'38"354 – Q2
Row 7
Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR6-Ferrari) - 1'38"508 – Q2
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'38"775 – Q2
Row 8
Bruno Senna (Renault R31) - 1'38"791 – Q2
Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'39"189 – Q2
Row 9
Sergio Perez (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'39"443 – Q2
Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'39"538 – Q1
Row 10
Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'40"522 – Q1
Jarno Trulli (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'41"101 – Q1
Row 11
Timo Glock (Virgin VR02-Cosworth) - 1'42"091 – Q1
Jérôme d'Ambrosio (Virgin VR02-Cosworth) - 1'43"483 – Q1
Row 12
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Hispania F111-Cosworth) - 1'43"758 – Q1
Daniel Ricciardo (Hispania F111-Cosworth) - no time - Q1