Sebastian Vettel this morning pipped his Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber to pole position for tomorrow’s Korean Grand Prix at the Yeongam circuit.
The German left his charge very late, and as the track got progressively quicker his decision was vindicated.
He was less than a tenth quicker than Webber’s best time, demonstrating that although the Red Bulls may lose straightline time in the first fast sector at the track, they more than make up for it in the twisty second and third sectors.
Fernando Alonso looked to be in the running for pole until the dying seconds but will start third for the race. Lewis Hamilton, who endured a minor off during the final Q3 session, will be fourth alongside the Ferrari man.
Final championship contender Jenson Button will be seventh on the grid, following Felipe Massa in sixth slot and an impressive Nico Rosberg fifth.
The top ten was completed by Renault’s Robert Kubica, Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello in the Williams.
Elsewhere, business was more or less as usual as the form went as expected.
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:37.123 1:36.074 1:35.585
2. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:37.373 1:36.039 1:35.659
3. Alonso Ferrari 1:37.144 1:36.287 1:35.766
4. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:37.113 1:36.197 1:36.062
5. Rosberg Mercedes 1:37.708 1:36.791 1:36.535
6. Massa Ferrari 1:37.515 1:36.169 1:36.571
7. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:38.123 1:37.064 1:36.731
8. Kubica Renault 1:37.703 1:37.179 1:36.824
9. Schumacher Mercedes 1:37.980 1:37.077 1:36.950
10. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1:38.257 1:37.511 1:36.998
11. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1:38.115 1:37.620
12. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:38.429 1:37.643
13. Heidfeld Sauber-Ferrari 1:38.171 1:37.715
14. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:38.572 1:37.783
15. Petrov Renault 1:38.174 1:37.799 *
16. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:38.583 1:37.853
17. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:38.621 1:38.594
18. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:38.955
19. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1:40.521
20. Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1:40.748
21. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1:41.768
22. di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1:42.325
23. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth 1:42.444
24. Senna HRT-Cosworth 1:43.283
Check back tomorrow for a minute-by-minute race report!
