Chinese GP: Vettel on pole ahead of Webber, Alonso third

Sebastian Vettel took his third pole position in four races by setting the fastest qualifying time for the Chinese Grand Prix. The German from Red Bull preceded his teammate Webber by 248 thousandths. Vettel had taken provisional pole on his first run but was overtaken by the Australian. Then the German got the better of the next run where he managed to get a better third sector. Third time for Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), four positions ahead of his teammate Felipe Massa, just two tenths behind.

Very disappointing Q3 for Lewis Hamilton who was the fastest in Q1 and Q2 but was unable to make the most of the car in the final session and will start sixth, behind Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) and Jenson Button (McLaren).

Michael Schumacher is ninth with the other Mercedes, between Robert Kubica's Renault and Adrian Sutil's Force India.

Williams on the edge of the top 10 with Barrichello, 11th, while Hulkenberg is only 16th after running wide at the last corner. Disappointing qualifying for Tonio Liuzzi, 18th, penalized by traffic.

Starting grid of the Chinese GP:

Team Driver Pos Q1 Q2 Q3
 1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:36.317 1:35.280 1:34.558
 2. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:35.978 1:35.100 1:34.806
 3. Alonso Ferrari 1:35.987 1:35.235 1:34.913
 4. Rosberg Mercedes 1:35.952 1:35.134 1:34.923
 5. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:36.122 1:35.443 1:34.979
 6. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:35.641 1:34.928 1:35.034
 7. Massa Ferrari 1:36.076 1:35.290 1:35.180
 8. Kubica Renault 1:36.348 1:35.550 1:35.364
 9. Schumacher Mercedes 1:36.484 1:35.715 1:35.646
10. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:36.671 1:35.665 1:35.963
11. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1:36.664 1:35.748
12. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:36.618 1:36.047
13. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:36.793 1:36.149
14. Petrov Renault 1:37.031 1:36.311
15. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:37.044 1:36.422
16. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1:37.049 1:36.647
17. de la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 1:37.050 1:37.020
18. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:37.161
19. Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1:39.278
20. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1:39.399
21. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1:39.520
22. di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1:39.783
23. Senna HRT-Cosworth 1:40.469
24. Chandhok HRT-Cosworth 1:40.578