Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel got the best of teammate Mark Webber and rival Fernando Alonso by a last minute performance in Yeongam, Saturday, during the qualifying session.
The McLaren seemed out of pace in Korea as they were unable to compete with the two teams on the top-3. Lewis Hamilton nevertheless took fourth place on Saturday. Jenson Button could do no better than seventh.
The second Ferrari of Felipe Massa will start from the end of third row, behind the resurging Mercedes GP car of Nico Rosberg. Rosberg’s teammate, Michael Schumacher, will start from ninth.
Robert Kubica, eighth, and Rubens Barrichello, tenth, complete the top-10 of this qualifying session in Korea.
Red Bull confirmed earlier in the day that, while most drivers began using their last engine of the season before the Yeongam venue, championship leader Mark Webber was only fitter his before the last practice session on Saturday morning.
Ferrari's Stefano Domenicalli admitted this could be an issue later in the season if it turns out Ferrari drivers do indeed have problems with their own engine usage.
Weather forecasts predict more than 50 per cent chances of showers during tomorrow's race. However, as Button told reporters: "It's going to be tough whatever the weather does."
Korean Grand Prix – Yeongam Circuit, Qualifying Results:
1. Row
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'35"585 - Q3
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'35"669 - Q3
2. Row
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F10) - 1'35"766 - Q3
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'36"062 - Q3
3. Row
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'36"535 - Q3
Felipe Massa (Ferrari F10) - 1'36"571 - Q3
4. Row
Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'36"731 - Q3
Robert Kubica (Renault R30) - 1'36"824 - Q3
5. Row
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'36"950 - Q3
Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'36"998 - Q3
6. Row
Nico Hulkenberg (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'37"620 - Q2
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'37"643 - Q2
7. Row
Nick Heidfeld (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'37"715 - Q2
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'37"783 - Q2
8. Row
Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'37"853 - Q2
Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'38"594 - Q2
9. Row
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'38"955 - Q1
Jarno Trulli (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'40"521 - Q1
10. Row
Timo Glock (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'40"748 - Q1
Vitaly Petrov (Renault R30) - 1'37"799 - Q2 *
11. Row
Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'41"768 - Q1
Lucas Di Grassi (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'42"325 - Q1
12. Row
Sakon Yamamoto (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'42"444 - Q1
Bruno Senna (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'43"283 - Q1
* Penalised 5 places for causing an evitable accident during the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka
The McLaren seemed out of pace in Korea as they were unable to compete with the two teams on the top-3. Lewis Hamilton nevertheless took fourth place on Saturday. Jenson Button could do no better than seventh.
The second Ferrari of Felipe Massa will start from the end of third row, behind the resurging Mercedes GP car of Nico Rosberg. Rosberg’s teammate, Michael Schumacher, will start from ninth.
Robert Kubica, eighth, and Rubens Barrichello, tenth, complete the top-10 of this qualifying session in Korea.
Red Bull confirmed earlier in the day that, while most drivers began using their last engine of the season before the Yeongam venue, championship leader Mark Webber was only fitter his before the last practice session on Saturday morning.
Ferrari's Stefano Domenicalli admitted this could be an issue later in the season if it turns out Ferrari drivers do indeed have problems with their own engine usage.
Weather forecasts predict more than 50 per cent chances of showers during tomorrow's race. However, as Button told reporters: "It's going to be tough whatever the weather does."
Korean Grand Prix – Yeongam Circuit, Qualifying Results:
1. Row
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'35"585 - Q3
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'35"669 - Q3
2. Row
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F10) - 1'35"766 - Q3
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'36"062 - Q3
3. Row
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'36"535 - Q3
Felipe Massa (Ferrari F10) - 1'36"571 - Q3
4. Row
Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'36"731 - Q3
Robert Kubica (Renault R30) - 1'36"824 - Q3
5. Row
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'36"950 - Q3
Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'36"998 - Q3
6. Row
Nico Hulkenberg (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'37"620 - Q2
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'37"643 - Q2
7. Row
Nick Heidfeld (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'37"715 - Q2
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'37"783 - Q2
8. Row
Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'37"853 - Q2
Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'38"594 - Q2
9. Row
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'38"955 - Q1
Jarno Trulli (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'40"521 - Q1
10. Row
Timo Glock (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'40"748 - Q1
Vitaly Petrov (Renault R30) - 1'37"799 - Q2 *
11. Row
Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'41"768 - Q1
Lucas Di Grassi (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'42"325 - Q1
12. Row
Sakon Yamamoto (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'42"444 - Q1
Bruno Senna (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'43"283 - Q1
* Penalised 5 places for causing an evitable accident during the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka