Vettel set for back-to-back titles with pole in Singapore GP

By Kai Portmann Sep 24, 2011, 16:23 GMT

Singapore - Sebastian Vettel on Saturday took the pole position for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in which he can clinch back-to-back world titles on Sunday.

Vettel, 24, posted the fastest lap time of 1 minute 44.381 seconds for the bumpy 5.07-kilometres Marina Bay Street Circuit to beat his Australian Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber by 0.351 seconds.

Grabbing his 11th pole position of the season after setting the pace throughout all three qualifying sessions, Vettel said he was 'reasonably confident' for Sunday's floodlit race.

'I love this track,' said the German, adding that it was most important not to make any mistakes racing 61 laps on the narrow circuit with its 23 corners.

The defending champion remained modest on the prospect of possibly clinching successive titles on Sunday.

'Tomorrow is the race, and that's where we focus on,' he said.

Behind Red Bull, the two McLaren drivers will start from second row, with Jenson Button third and Lewis Hamilton fourth.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who has a mathematical chance to snatch the title from Vettel, came in fifth, followed by Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari.

As overtaking will be tough on Singapore's bumpy street circuit, qualifying was thus be crucial to ensure the best possible position for the race.

Vettel, who has eight wins under his belt this season, is going into the Singapore floodlight Grand Prix with 284 points, well ahead of Alonso with 172.

The German will clinch the title if he manages to hold a lead of at least 125 points Sunday ahead of the five remaining races.

It would be difficult to beat Vettel, 'even if he doesn't start in the next six races,' said Button.

The Briton and Vettel's teammate Webber share third place in the drivers' standings with 167 points, ahead of Hamilton, who is another 9 points adrift.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said he did not believe in celebrating prematurely, despite Vettel's runaway lead.

'We are ignoring the drivers' points table at the moment,' Horner told the official F1 website.

The Red Bull team chief said the champagne was not in the fridge already 'because it is important to keep our focus.'

'Even if the lead looks pretty healthy, things can change,' said Horner.

He said Singapore was an event that Red Bull would love to win.

'We've had a second and a third place here, so it would be fantastic to go one better this year,' he said. 'But, for sure, the Ferraris and McLarens will be pushing equally hard.'