Mark Webber (Red Bull) had the better of teammate Sebastian Vettel during qualifying of the Korean Grand Prix, as they both bid to catch up championship leader Fernando Alonso.
Vettel has had the upper had for the most part of the weekend so far, and was tipped to take pole at the Yeongam circuit, but was powerless to Webber's last offensive in the dying moments of Q3.
The pair upstaged a resurgent Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), who seems to have found his way back to top despite all the talks surrounding his coming move to Mercedes. The Briton easily disposed of his teammate Jenson Button, only 11th on the grid because of a mistake during his last Q2 lap.
Alonso (Ferrari) also had a better day's work compared to his performance in Suzuka. He lines up on the second row of the grid, just beside Hamilton.
The two Lotus drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean managed to split Alonso from Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa by taking fifth and seventh. Grosjean, who after coming back from his one-race ban caused yet another lap one pile-up, will be closely watched by the stewards.
Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) managed to beat both Mercedes drivers, Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher, who complete the top 10.
Only India driver Narain Karthikeyan (HRT) failed to set a lap, as he was held captive in the pits by brake problems.
Qualifying results* – Korean Grand Prix (Yeongam)
1.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'37"242 - Q3
2.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'37"316 - Q3
3.Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'37"469 - Q3
4.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'37"534 - Q3
5.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'37"625 - Q3
6.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'37"884 - Q3
7.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'37"934 - Q3
8.Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'38"266 - Q3
9.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'38"361 - Q3
10.Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'38"513 - Q3
11.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'38"441 - Q2
12.Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'38"460 - Q2
13.Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'38"594 - Q2
14.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'38"643 - Q2
15.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'38"725 - Q2
16.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'39"084 - Q2
17.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'39"340 - Q2
18.Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'39"443 - Q1
19.Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'40"207 - Q1
20.Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'40"333 - Q1
21.Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'41"371 - Q1
22.Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'42"881 - Q1
23.Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - no time - Q1
24.Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'41"317 - Q1 **
*Unofficial results
**Penalized for engine change
Vettel has had the upper had for the most part of the weekend so far, and was tipped to take pole at the Yeongam circuit, but was powerless to Webber's last offensive in the dying moments of Q3.
The pair upstaged a resurgent Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), who seems to have found his way back to top despite all the talks surrounding his coming move to Mercedes. The Briton easily disposed of his teammate Jenson Button, only 11th on the grid because of a mistake during his last Q2 lap.
Alonso (Ferrari) also had a better day's work compared to his performance in Suzuka. He lines up on the second row of the grid, just beside Hamilton.
The two Lotus drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean managed to split Alonso from Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa by taking fifth and seventh. Grosjean, who after coming back from his one-race ban caused yet another lap one pile-up, will be closely watched by the stewards.
Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) managed to beat both Mercedes drivers, Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher, who complete the top 10.
Only India driver Narain Karthikeyan (HRT) failed to set a lap, as he was held captive in the pits by brake problems.
Qualifying results* – Korean Grand Prix (Yeongam)
1.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'37"242 - Q3
2.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'37"316 - Q3
3.Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'37"469 - Q3
4.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'37"534 - Q3
5.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'37"625 - Q3
6.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'37"884 - Q3
7.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'37"934 - Q3
8.Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'38"266 - Q3
9.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'38"361 - Q3
10.Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'38"513 - Q3
11.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'38"441 - Q2
12.Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'38"460 - Q2
13.Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'38"594 - Q2
14.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'38"643 - Q2
15.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'38"725 - Q2
16.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'39"084 - Q2
17.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'39"340 - Q2
18.Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'39"443 - Q1
19.Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'40"207 - Q1
20.Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'40"333 - Q1
21.Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'41"371 - Q1
22.Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'42"881 - Q1
23.Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - no time - Q1
24.Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'41"317 - Q1 **
*Unofficial results
**Penalized for engine change