Sebastian Vettel claimed his eighth pole position of the year on Saturday when he topped the times for Red Bull during qualifying for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. On a warm, overcast day, the 24-year-old German clocked a best time of one minute 19.815 seconds, edging out Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren by 0.1secs in the final seconds of the session. Jenson Button in the other McLaren was third quickest.
It is the German’s eighth pole position of the year and 23rd of his career. “Yes baby, that’s what I’m talking about,” shouted Vettel who, despite leading the title-race by 77 points, had looked off the pace during free practice on Friday. Vettel explained that his revived pace was down to his team breaking curfew and working through the night to improve his car. “After yesterday, when these boys [Hamilton and Button] were a little bit quicker than us, it seems we have done the right thing and I am a lot more comfortable this morning,” he said. “We changed a lot on the car overnight. The boys were working pretty hard and the boys didn’t get much sleep but a result like this today is the best way to say thanks. “I have the confidence back and I am feeling comfortable in the car. I am looking forward to tomorrow.” Hamilton, champion in 2008, insisted he was happy with his performance despite losing out on pole. “It’s a good achievement for us, we knew we had good pace,” he said. “Today they [Red Bull] seemed to pick up a little pace, but for me and Jenson to be in the first two rows is a good job and I think we can pick up some good points tomorrow.
Fellow Briton Button, who has struggled during qualifying in recent races, said he was glad to be starting nearer the front. “I’m pretty happy with that,” he said, “It’s nice to be positioned well and hopefully we can challenge Red Bull tomorrow.” Ferrari driver Brazilian Felipe Massa was fourth fastest, out-pacing his team-mate Spaniard Fernando Alonso, fifth, for the first time this season. Australian Mark Webber wound up sixth in the second Red Bull and admitted he was nowhere near matching Vettel’s pace. “Bizarre really,” he said. “There’s no way I could do that lap time.” Germans Nico Rosberg of Mercedes, Force India driver Adrian Sutil and Michael Schumacher in the second Mercedes took positions 7 to 9 and Sauber driver Mexican Sergio Perez was tenth.
