Sebastian Vettel has nicely placed his aces on Saturday, in Abu Dhabi, has he took yet another pole position, one that could very well change the course of things tomorrow, in Yas Marina.
His teammate Mark Webber did the exact opposite by qualifying no better than fifth. Their closest rival, Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso, qualified third, a position that would ensure him a third title tomorrow would he be able to maintain it.
The picture is actually quite easy (for more details, take a look at this other article): if Alonso wins, he will be champion. For Webber to get the 2010 title, he needs to win and Alonso do not better than third. As for Vettel, he would need a win and for Alonso to do no better than fifth to win the championship.
Lewis Hamilton, who qualified second Saturday, under the lights of the impressive Abu Dhabi track, can also dream of a second title on Sunday, but he would need a win as well as no points for Alonso, no better than a third place for Vettel and no better than sixth for Webber.
Jenson Button imposed himself in between the four contenders with a fourth place qualifying position.
Felipe Massa got himself under the radars once again in qualifying when his Ferrari got in contact with Hamilton’s McLaren which in turn destroyed a track-side camera. Hamilton was summoned by stewarts after the session but was no penalised for his aggressive driving that caused the incident.
Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher – who once again congratulated his young countryman Vettel, also called baby Schumi, in length after the session –, his teammate Nico Rosberg and Vitaly Petrov completed the top-10.
Robert Kubica was probably the one deception of this session. He failed to qualify for the last segment of the session, placing his Renault in 11th place only on the grid.
Results of Qualifying Session – Abu Dhabi:
1. Row
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'39”394 - Q1
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'39”425 - Q1
2. Row
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F10) - 1'39”792 - Q1
Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'39”823 - Q1
3. Row
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'39”925 - Q1
Felipe Massa (Ferrari F10) - 1'40”202 - Q1
4. Row
Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'40”203 - Q1
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'40”516 - Q1
5. Row
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'40”589 - Q1
Vitaly Petrov (Renault R30) - 1'40”901 - Q1
6. Row
Robert Kubica (Renault R30) - 1'40”780 - Q2
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'40”783 - Q2
7. Row
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'40”914 - Q2
Nick Heidfeld (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'41”113 - Q2
8. Row
Nico Hulkenberg (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'41”418 - Q2
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'41”642 - Q2
9. Row
Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'41”738 - Q2
Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'41”824 - Q3
10. Row
Jarno Trulli (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'43”516 - Q3
Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'43”712 - Q3
11. Row
Timo Glock (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'44”095 - Q3
Lucas Di Grassi (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'44”510 - Q3
12. Row
Bruno Senna (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'45”085 - Q3
Christian Klien (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'45”296 - Q3
** Unofficial Results **
His teammate Mark Webber did the exact opposite by qualifying no better than fifth. Their closest rival, Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso, qualified third, a position that would ensure him a third title tomorrow would he be able to maintain it.
The picture is actually quite easy (for more details, take a look at this other article): if Alonso wins, he will be champion. For Webber to get the 2010 title, he needs to win and Alonso do not better than third. As for Vettel, he would need a win and for Alonso to do no better than fifth to win the championship.
Lewis Hamilton, who qualified second Saturday, under the lights of the impressive Abu Dhabi track, can also dream of a second title on Sunday, but he would need a win as well as no points for Alonso, no better than a third place for Vettel and no better than sixth for Webber.
Jenson Button imposed himself in between the four contenders with a fourth place qualifying position.
Felipe Massa got himself under the radars once again in qualifying when his Ferrari got in contact with Hamilton’s McLaren which in turn destroyed a track-side camera. Hamilton was summoned by stewarts after the session but was no penalised for his aggressive driving that caused the incident.
Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher – who once again congratulated his young countryman Vettel, also called baby Schumi, in length after the session –, his teammate Nico Rosberg and Vitaly Petrov completed the top-10.
Robert Kubica was probably the one deception of this session. He failed to qualify for the last segment of the session, placing his Renault in 11th place only on the grid.
Results of Qualifying Session – Abu Dhabi:
1. Row
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'39”394 - Q1
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'39”425 - Q1
2. Row
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F10) - 1'39”792 - Q1
Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'39”823 - Q1
3. Row
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'39”925 - Q1
Felipe Massa (Ferrari F10) - 1'40”202 - Q1
4. Row
Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'40”203 - Q1
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'40”516 - Q1
5. Row
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'40”589 - Q1
Vitaly Petrov (Renault R30) - 1'40”901 - Q1
6. Row
Robert Kubica (Renault R30) - 1'40”780 - Q2
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'40”783 - Q2
7. Row
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'40”914 - Q2
Nick Heidfeld (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'41”113 - Q2
8. Row
Nico Hulkenberg (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'41”418 - Q2
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'41”642 - Q2
9. Row
Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'41”738 - Q2
Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'41”824 - Q3
10. Row
Jarno Trulli (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'43”516 - Q3
Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'43”712 - Q3
11. Row
Timo Glock (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'44”095 - Q3
Lucas Di Grassi (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'44”510 - Q3
12. Row
Bruno Senna (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'45”085 - Q3
Christian Klien (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'45”296 - Q3
** Unofficial Results **