Under a shiny Malaysian sun, Lewis Hamilton took his second pole position of the 2012 Formula One season, ahead of McLaren teammate Jenson Button, during qualifying at the Sepang International Circuit.
Behind the two Brits, the oldest veteran on the grid Michael Schumacher drove his Mercedes W03 to third spot – his best qualifying since his return to the sport. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) opted for the harder tire compound in Q3, which explains why he only shows fifth on the grid. His teammate Mark Webber lines up fourth, alongside Schumacher.
Again, Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) had a grip over his teammate Felipe Massa. The Spaniard who qualified ninth at least made it into the top 10, unlike the Brazilian. May be the two-time world champion was spurred on by the newly inked samurai tattoo featuring on his back and neck.
Romain Grosjean (Lotus), who qualified third in Australia, was a humble seventh and Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), down in eighth spot, a disappointing 0.3s behind his teammate Schumacher.
Although he posted the fifth best time, Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) had to drop five places, just like fellow Finn Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham). Both suffered penalties – Raikkonen for changing his gearbox, Kovalainen for passing a car behind the safety during the Australian Grand Prix.
Pastor Maldonado (Williams-Renault) who shined in the season opener’s Australian Grand Prix, was back to normalcy. An off in Q2 jeopardized his chances of making it into the final phase of qualifying.
Furthermore, none of the Force Indias, nor the Toro Rossos made it to Q3.
Unsurprisingly, the same can be said of HRT – which at least this time improved to lap within the 107% rule. Both Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan will start the race, albeit in the low end of the grid.
Starting grid – Grand Prix of Malaysia (Sepang International Circuit)
First row
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1min36.219s - Q3
Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1min36.368s - Q3
Second row
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1min36.391s - Q3
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1min36.461s - Q3
Third row
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1min36.634s - Q3
Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1min36.658s - Q3
Fourth row
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1min36.664s - Q3
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1min37.566s - Q3
Fifth row
Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1min37.698s - Q3
Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1min36.461s - Q3 *
Sixth row
Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1min37.589s - Q2
Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1min37.731s - Q2
Seventh row
Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1min37.841s - Q2
Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1min37.877s - Q2
Eighth row
Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1min37.883s - Q2
Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1min37.890s - Q2
Ninth row
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1min38.069s - Q2
Jean Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1min39.077s - Q1
10th row
Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1min39.306s - Q1
Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1min40.903s - Q1
11th row
Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1min41.250s - Q1
Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1min42.914s - Q1
12th row
Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1min43.825s - Q1
Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1min39.306s - Q1 **
* Penalized five positions for gearbox change
** Penalized five positions for overtaking under safety car (Australia)
Behind the two Brits, the oldest veteran on the grid Michael Schumacher drove his Mercedes W03 to third spot – his best qualifying since his return to the sport. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) opted for the harder tire compound in Q3, which explains why he only shows fifth on the grid. His teammate Mark Webber lines up fourth, alongside Schumacher.
Again, Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) had a grip over his teammate Felipe Massa. The Spaniard who qualified ninth at least made it into the top 10, unlike the Brazilian. May be the two-time world champion was spurred on by the newly inked samurai tattoo featuring on his back and neck.
Romain Grosjean (Lotus), who qualified third in Australia, was a humble seventh and Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), down in eighth spot, a disappointing 0.3s behind his teammate Schumacher.
Although he posted the fifth best time, Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) had to drop five places, just like fellow Finn Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham). Both suffered penalties – Raikkonen for changing his gearbox, Kovalainen for passing a car behind the safety during the Australian Grand Prix.
Pastor Maldonado (Williams-Renault) who shined in the season opener’s Australian Grand Prix, was back to normalcy. An off in Q2 jeopardized his chances of making it into the final phase of qualifying.
Furthermore, none of the Force Indias, nor the Toro Rossos made it to Q3.
Unsurprisingly, the same can be said of HRT – which at least this time improved to lap within the 107% rule. Both Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan will start the race, albeit in the low end of the grid.
Starting grid – Grand Prix of Malaysia (Sepang International Circuit)
First row
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1min36.219s - Q3
Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1min36.368s - Q3
Second row
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1min36.391s - Q3
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1min36.461s - Q3
Third row
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1min36.634s - Q3
Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1min36.658s - Q3
Fourth row
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1min36.664s - Q3
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1min37.566s - Q3
Fifth row
Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1min37.698s - Q3
Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1min36.461s - Q3 *
Sixth row
Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1min37.589s - Q2
Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1min37.731s - Q2
Seventh row
Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1min37.841s - Q2
Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1min37.877s - Q2
Eighth row
Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1min37.883s - Q2
Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1min37.890s - Q2
Ninth row
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1min38.069s - Q2
Jean Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1min39.077s - Q1
10th row
Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1min39.306s - Q1
Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1min40.903s - Q1
11th row
Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1min41.250s - Q1
Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1min42.914s - Q1
12th row
Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1min43.825s - Q1
Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1min39.306s - Q1 **
* Penalized five positions for gearbox change
** Penalized five positions for overtaking under safety car (Australia)