Publications
Partners
Formula 1 World champion Sebastian Vettel bounced back from his crash in practice on Friday to claim pole position in an all-Red Bull front row on Saturday for Sunday's Turkish GP.
His fourth consecutive pole from the opening four races of the season was the first time this feat had been achieved since Finnish driver Mika Hakkinen did it in 1999.
The 23-year-old German drove his Red Bull with conviction despite crashing the previous day to clock 1min25.049 on the first lap in the top 10 shootout, the third session of qualifying, then saved his tyres by not going out again such was his supreme confidence for the 19th pole of his remarkable career.
QUICK APOLOGY
He was also four-tenths of a second ahead of Red Bull team mate Mark Webber, who also chose to run only once in Q3. Arrogance or confidence – you decide – but it left both drivers with a spare set of tyres for the race.
Afterwards Vettel was quick to apologise to - and then praise - his team's mechanics for the work they did in rebuilding his car overnight. "Apologies to the team and the mechanics," said Vettel. "Obviously I damaged the car yesterday and couldn't run in the afternoon and they did such a good job fixing it.
"We’ve been good since this morning and I am happy with this result. I haven’t had a completely trouble-free day but I like this track and that helps. I found good rhythm.
"It was funny that Mark and I both decided to skip the second run in Q3 because it is so strange to see the others on the track and we are watching knowing they can beat us."
'GREAT TO BE HERE'
Webber, who produced a superb drive in the Chinese GP three weeks earlier to finish third after starting eighth admitted he had taken a risk in not going out again. "Seb did such a great lap for pole but I had more to lose not going out. It is going to be a long race tomorrow but we are in the best positions and with tyres, too."
Nico Rosberg was third-fastest for the improved Mercedes team, just beating McLaren's Lewis Hamilton who won last time out. Fernando Alonso was fifth.
Rosberg, son of Finland's former World champion Keke, was looking forward to Sunday's race "It is really great for us to be here, to be third, and I’ve managed to save a set of tyres so we are feeling positive for the race."
Hamilton said that while the McLarens would start from the disadvantageous side of the grid he hoped for an impressive showing. “I think we’ve been on the dirty side of the grid every time but I’m really looking forwards to the race.
“It’s a long one and a lot can happen.”
Qualifying was run in warm, dry conditions under a near-cloudless blue sky and amid rumours that intensified this weekend suggesting that this will be the sixth and last Turkish GP due to lack of spectators and support.
Final qualifying times for the 2011 Turkish F GP
1 Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull 1min25.049
2 Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull 1:25.454
3 Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:25.574
4 Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren 1min25.595
5 Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 1min25.851
6 Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 1min25.982
7 Vitaly Petrov (RUS) Lotus 1min26.296
8 Michael Schumacher (GER) Mercedes 1min26.646
9 Nick Heidfeld (GER) Lotus 1min26.659
10 Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 1min27.013
11 Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Williams 1min26.764
12 Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India 1min27.027
13 Paul di Resta (GBR) Force India 1min27.145
14 Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Williams 1min27.236
15 Sergio Perez (MEX) Sauber 1min27.244
16 Sebastien Buemi (SUI) Toro Rosso 1min27.255
17 Jaime Alguersuari (ESP) Toro Rosso 1min27.572
18 Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) Team Lotus 1min28.780
19 Jarno Trulli (ITA) Team Lotus 1min29.673
20 Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL) Virgin 1min30.445
21 Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) Hispania 1min30.692
22 Timo Glock (GER) Virgin 1min30.813
23 Narain Karthikeyan (IND) Hispania 1min31.564
24 Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) Sauber No time.
The grid for Sunday's 2011 Turkish Formula 1 GP
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull-Renault)
Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull-Renault)
2nd row
Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes)
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
3rd row
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari)
Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
4th row
Vitaly Petrov (RUS/Lotus-Renault)
Michael Schumacher (GER/Mercedes)
5th row
Nick Heidfeld (GER/Lotus-Renault)
Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari)
6th row
Rubens Barrichello (BRA/Williams-Cosworth)
Adrian Sutil (GER/Force India-Mercedes)
7th row
Paul di Resta (GBR/Force India-Mercedes)
Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Cosworth)
8th row
Sergio Perez (MEX/Sauber-Ferrari)
Sebastien Buemi (SUI/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
9th row
Jaime Alguersuari (ESP/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/Team Lotus)
10th row
Jarno Trulli (ITA/Team Lotus)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA/Hispania-Cosworth)
11th row
Timo Glock (GER/Virgin-Cosworth)
Narain Karthikeyan (IND/Hispania-Cosworth)
12th row
Kamui Kobayashi (JPN/Sauber-Ferrari)
Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL/Virgin-Cosworth)
Stay with Wheels24 for the F1 weekend.
His fourth consecutive pole from the opening four races of the season was the first time this feat had been achieved since Finnish driver Mika Hakkinen did it in 1999.
The 23-year-old German drove his Red Bull with conviction despite crashing the previous day to clock 1min25.049 on the first lap in the top 10 shootout, the third session of qualifying, then saved his tyres by not going out again such was his supreme confidence for the 19th pole of his remarkable career.
QUICK APOLOGY
He was also four-tenths of a second ahead of Red Bull team mate Mark Webber, who also chose to run only once in Q3. Arrogance or confidence – you decide – but it left both drivers with a spare set of tyres for the race.
Afterwards Vettel was quick to apologise to - and then praise - his team's mechanics for the work they did in rebuilding his car overnight. "Apologies to the team and the mechanics," said Vettel. "Obviously I damaged the car yesterday and couldn't run in the afternoon and they did such a good job fixing it.
"We’ve been good since this morning and I am happy with this result. I haven’t had a completely trouble-free day but I like this track and that helps. I found good rhythm.
"It was funny that Mark and I both decided to skip the second run in Q3 because it is so strange to see the others on the track and we are watching knowing they can beat us."
'GREAT TO BE HERE'
Webber, who produced a superb drive in the Chinese GP three weeks earlier to finish third after starting eighth admitted he had taken a risk in not going out again. "Seb did such a great lap for pole but I had more to lose not going out. It is going to be a long race tomorrow but we are in the best positions and with tyres, too."
Nico Rosberg was third-fastest for the improved Mercedes team, just beating McLaren's Lewis Hamilton who won last time out. Fernando Alonso was fifth.
Rosberg, son of Finland's former World champion Keke, was looking forward to Sunday's race "It is really great for us to be here, to be third, and I’ve managed to save a set of tyres so we are feeling positive for the race."
Hamilton said that while the McLarens would start from the disadvantageous side of the grid he hoped for an impressive showing. “I think we’ve been on the dirty side of the grid every time but I’m really looking forwards to the race.
“It’s a long one and a lot can happen.”
Qualifying was run in warm, dry conditions under a near-cloudless blue sky and amid rumours that intensified this weekend suggesting that this will be the sixth and last Turkish GP due to lack of spectators and support.
Final qualifying times for the 2011 Turkish F GP
1 Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull 1min25.049
2 Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull 1:25.454
3 Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:25.574
4 Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren 1min25.595
5 Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 1min25.851
6 Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 1min25.982
7 Vitaly Petrov (RUS) Lotus 1min26.296
8 Michael Schumacher (GER) Mercedes 1min26.646
9 Nick Heidfeld (GER) Lotus 1min26.659
10 Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 1min27.013
11 Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Williams 1min26.764
12 Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India 1min27.027
13 Paul di Resta (GBR) Force India 1min27.145
14 Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Williams 1min27.236
15 Sergio Perez (MEX) Sauber 1min27.244
16 Sebastien Buemi (SUI) Toro Rosso 1min27.255
17 Jaime Alguersuari (ESP) Toro Rosso 1min27.572
18 Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) Team Lotus 1min28.780
19 Jarno Trulli (ITA) Team Lotus 1min29.673
20 Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL) Virgin 1min30.445
21 Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) Hispania 1min30.692
22 Timo Glock (GER) Virgin 1min30.813
23 Narain Karthikeyan (IND) Hispania 1min31.564
24 Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) Sauber No time.
The grid for Sunday's 2011 Turkish Formula 1 GP
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull-Renault)
Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull-Renault)
2nd row
Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes)
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
3rd row
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari)
Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
4th row
Vitaly Petrov (RUS/Lotus-Renault)
Michael Schumacher (GER/Mercedes)
5th row
Nick Heidfeld (GER/Lotus-Renault)
Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari)
6th row
Rubens Barrichello (BRA/Williams-Cosworth)
Adrian Sutil (GER/Force India-Mercedes)
7th row
Paul di Resta (GBR/Force India-Mercedes)
Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Cosworth)
8th row
Sergio Perez (MEX/Sauber-Ferrari)
Sebastien Buemi (SUI/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
9th row
Jaime Alguersuari (ESP/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/Team Lotus)
10th row
Jarno Trulli (ITA/Team Lotus)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA/Hispania-Cosworth)
11th row
Timo Glock (GER/Virgin-Cosworth)
Narain Karthikeyan (IND/Hispania-Cosworth)
12th row
Kamui Kobayashi (JPN/Sauber-Ferrari)
Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL/Virgin-Cosworth)
Stay with Wheels24 for the F1 weekend.