Vettel gets a record 16th pole for Red Bull, at Indian GP

By Carsten Lappe Oct 29, 2011, 9:40 GMT

New Delhi - World champion Sebastian Vettel gave Red Bull a record 16th pole position in one Formula One season when he dominated Saturday's qualifying for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix.

Vettel clocked 1 minute 24.178 seconds on the 5.125km Buddh International Circuit to rank ahead of McLaren's Lewis Hamilton (1:24.474) and Mark Webber in the second Red Bull (1:24.503).

But Webber will start Sunday's race next to Vettel on the front row because Hamilton loses three places on the grid for a yellow-flag offence in Friday practice.

Vettel now has 13 poles in 2011 and Webber three as Red Bull got the qualifying record at the 17th of 19 races. The previous top mark was 15 poles achieved by McLaren, Williams (twice each) and Red Bull last year.

Vettel has already clinched successive drivers' world titles and his Red Bull team back-to-back constructors' crowns.

The pole position record was another milestone for the England-based Austrian team. Vettel can still better Nigel Mansell's record 14 season poles and match Michael Schumacher's 13 wins in one season if he tops the remaining three.

'It was a good session for us at a new circuit, new venue. It was tricky for all of us,' said Vettel after his 28th career pole.

'I'm extremely happy and it's good to be here. It will be a very interesting race on a challenging circuit. It's my first time in India and I'm excited to race.'

Hamilton was happy to have given the Red Bulls a fight and, given that there are several spots for overtaking on the course, not too concerned about being only fifth on the grid because of the penalty for ignoring double yellow flags the previous day.

'I'm really surprised that we were able to split the Red Bulls. It's great to be on the front row in terms of how we qualified but of course we've got the penalty,' Hamilton said.

'It was a silly mistake and I paid the price. (But) Overtaking should be OK compared to other places. I'm still optimistic, regardless of where I start.'

Fernando Alonso of Ferrari is third on the grid and the local Force India team had German Adrian Sutil qualify in eighth place.

There was no such luck for record world champion Michael Schumacher who managed no better than 12th for Mercedes, complaining about vibrations of the rear tyres.

Felipe Massa's Ferrari went into the crash barriers in the dying second of qualifying after the front right broke on a raised curb. But the Brazilian walked away unharmed.