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Saturday, 23 March 2013

Vettel secures pole for Malaysian GP

Sebastian Vettel snatched another dramatic pole for Red Bull in the closing moments of a wet Q3 session in Sepang on Saturday, taking the honour away from Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who was then bumped back another place by team mate Felipe Massa.

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Qualifying began in even hotter conditions than FP3, with a track temperature of 41 degrees Celsius, as Adrian Sutil set the pace for Force India with 1m 36.809s from Kimi Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg, Alonso, Romain Grosjean, Jenson Button, Paul di Resta, Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber and Sergio Perez.


Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 2013 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Formula 1


Down the back, Jean-Eric Vergne failed to make the cut by a couple of tenths, his 1m 38.157s for Toro Rosso leaving him 17th. Valtteri Bottas didn’t make it either, with 1m 38.207s, while a late improvement saw Jules Bianchi jump both Caterhams with his Marussia to take 19th with an impressive 1m 38.434s. Behind him, Caterham's Charles Pic just won the fight with Marussia’s Max Chilton and team mate Giedo van der Garde, their respective laps being 1m 39.314s, 1m 39.672s and 1m 39.932s.

Q2 saw Rosberg set the pace with 1m 36.190s from Webber, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Sutil, Massa, Alonso, Button, Vettel and Perez. Rain in the final half of the lap with six minutes to go ruined Paul di Resta’s chances. The Scot had been set to go fastest early on but had to abort his lap. His subsequent efforts saw him run wide, then later have a multiple spin, as the track became super-slippery.


Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 2013 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Formula 1


Grosjean also left it too late, and lines up 11th on 1m 37.636s for Lotus, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber on 1m 38.125s, Daniel Ricciardo’s Toro Rosso on 1m 38.822s, Esteban Gutierrez’s Sauber on 1m 39.221s, and Di Resta on 1m 44.509s. Pastor Maldonado didn’t venture out for Williams.

The rain, while not as heavy as that on previous afternoons, showed little sign of abating prior to Q3, even though the track and ambient temperatures stayed the same. Intermediate tyres became the new order of the day.


Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 2013 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Formula 1  Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 2013 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Formula 1  Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 2013 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Formula 1


In an up and down session, the track was continually evolving. Sutil set the early pace, before his 1m 58.293s was beaten by Perez, then Hamilton, then Rosberg, then Vettel.


Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes Grand Prix, 2013 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Formula 1


In the final runs, Webber went fastest with 1m 52.244s, only for Hamilton to beat that with 1m 51.244s. But right at the end Alonso snatched the honours away with 1m 50.727s before Vettel, moments later, redefined pole at 1m 49.674s. Just to add insult to injury, Alonso was bumped to third by Massa, with 1m 50.587s.


Jenson Button, McLaren, 2013 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Formula 1


Hamilton thus fell to fourth ahead of Webber, as Raikkonen’s final effort yielded only seventh ahead of the improved McLarens of Button and Perez, which sandwiched Sutil.


Nico Rosberg, Mercedes Grand Prix, 2013 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Formula 1


Thus the provisional grid reads: Vettel, Massa; Alonso, Hamilton; Webber, Rosberg; Raikkonen, Button; Sutil, Perez; Grosjean, Hulkenberg; Ricciardo, Gutierrez; di Resta, Maldonado; Vergne, Bottas; Bianchi, Pic; Chilton, Van der Garde.



Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, Red Bull, 2013 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Formula 1


Starting grid - 2013 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix.




Qualifying results - 2013 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix


Pos.DriverTeamTimeLaps
1.deSebastian VettelRed Bull01:49.67413
2.brFelipe MassaFerrari01:50.58715
3.esFernando AlonsoFerrari01:50.72714
4.ukLewis HamiltonMercedes01:51.69915
5.auMark WebberRed Bull01:52.24414
6.deNico RosbergMercedes01:52.51914
7.fiKimi RäikkönenLotus01:52.97012
8.ukJenson ButtonMcLaren01:53.17514
9.deAdrian SutilForce India01:53.43912
10.mxSergio PerezMcLaren01:54.13616
 
11.frRomain GrosjeanLotus01:37.6367
12.deNico HülkenbergSauber01:38.12512
13.auDaniel RicciardoToro Rosso01:38.82212
14.mxEsteban GutiérrezSauber01:39.22114
15.ukPaul di RestaForce India01:44.50910
16.vePastor MaldonadoWilliamsno time10
 
17.frJean-Eric VergneToro Rosso01:38.1578
18.fiValtteri BottasWilliams01:38.2077
19.frJules BianchiMarussia01:38.4348
20.frCharles PicCaterham01:39.3146
21.ukMax ChiltonMarussia01:39.6728
22.nlGiedo van der GardeCaterham01:39.9326

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