Hamilton beats Vettel for pole as Red Bull monopoly ends

By Christian Hollmann Oct 15, 2011, 7:14 GMT

Yeongam, South Korea - Lewis Hamilton ended Red Bull's pole position season monopoly on Saturday when he beat Sebastian Vettel for first place on the grid in Korea on the occasion of McLaren's 700th Formula One Grand Prix.

Hamilton got his first qualifying win in 16 months since the 2010 Canadian GP, clocking 1 minute 35.820 seconds on the 5.615-kilometres course for his 19th career pole.

Vettel, who is already assured of back-to-back world titles, was second for Red Bull in 1:36.042 and Jenson Button was third in the second McLaren in 1:36.126.

Red Bull had topped qualifying in the previous 16 races, starting with the 2010 season-ending Abu Dhabi GP. Vettel took 13 poles and team-mate Mark Webber three.

The pole was sweet for Hamilton, who has had an up-and-down season with various incidents apart from his two GP victories in China and Germany.

'I'm very happy. I'm very proud of what the team has been able to achieve over the last few races. But tomorrow is the day that really counts,' he said.

'The pole feels great. Hopefully I can redeem myself tomorrow.'

Vettel admitted to McLaren's superiority in a qualifying session made difficult because rain during Friday practice gave the teams little chances to test tyres and fine-tune their setups.

Red Bull's tyre choice Saturday for Vettel and (fourth-placed) Webber led to raised eyebrows as they went out in super-softs in the first and second qualifying round. But Vettel said there was plan behind it whhich could them in the race.

'To be honest, McLaren were very strong yesterday (Friday) and a fair chunk ahead of everybody, including us. But once again we pushed them very hard in qualifying and got very very close, closer than we expected.

'We saved all our prime tyres so I think we are in a good position. Tyre wear will be crucial,' Vettel said.

Vettel has no real reason for concern as he wrapped up back-to-back world titles last weekend in Japan. The German has finished every race this season and placed no worse than fourth, topping the standings with 324 points from Button (210) and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso (202).

In the constructors' list, Red Bull have 518 points and can clinch that title on Sunday as McLaren's chances on 388 appear to be purely mathematical. Ferrari are out of contention on 292.

But with the 700th GP as an added incentive, McLaren hope for back-to-back victories, after Button won in Japan, in an effort to end the season on a high and boost morale for 2012.

Alonso, meanwhile, had to be content with sixth place on the grid as the Ferrari seems not good enough to repeat Alonso's win in the Korean debut race last year.

'I'm not extremely happy. Obviously we weren't good enough today,' said Alonso.

Even worse off was record world champion Michael Schumacher, stranded in 12th place and saying that tyre problems made him fail to qualify for the final session.

'It is a bit unusual not to be in the top 10, but unfortunately these things can happen,' the Mercedes driver Schumacher said.