Mercedes initially struggled during practice as they gathered the necessary
data required to make the correct calls on set up.
But even when Hamilton crossed the line at the death to claim top spot on the
grid and was informed of the fact, he replied: “Pole?”
Lotus’ Romain Grosjean lines up ahead of Merceces’ Nico Rosberg who had been
quickest in Q1 and Q2, with Vettel’s title rivals Fernando Alonso in his
Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen for Lotus fifth and sixth.
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa will start seventh ahead of Daniel Ricciardo for Toro
Rosso, with McLaren’s Sergio Perez ninth.
Mark Webber, who scraped into Q3 but with a KERS issue, failed to set a time
in the last 10 minutes and will start 10th.
Adrian Sutil was ousted from a place in the top 10 right at the death of Q2 by
Perez, missing out by 0.024secs and will line up 11th in his Force India,
followed by German compatriot Nico Hulkenberg for Sauber
Jenson Button finished two tenths of a second behind Perez in Q2 and could
only manage 13th, with Toro Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne alongside him on the
grid, whilst Williams’ duo Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas occupy row
eight.
Esteban Gutierrez starts 17th for Sauber after suffering an engine issue
during final practice, resulting in the Mexican failing to set a timed lap,
so clearly compromising him during qualifying.
Paul Di Resta, who has struggled so far this weekend, endured another tough
Saturday afternoon in the cockpit of his Force India.
Seemingly struggling with the new construction of tyres, the Scot starts 18th
in his Force India following his worst qualifying performance this year.
Caterham’s recent improvements mean they lock out the 10th row, with Charles
Pic ahead of Giedo van der Garde, leaving Marussia duo Jules Bianchi and Max
Chilton bringing up the rear.
After claiming the 30th pole overall of his F1 career, Hamilton said: “I was
really surprised when I was told I had it because I was expecting Seb to get
it.
“Pole definitely helps, of course because it’s very difficult to follow here,
but it is a long way down to turn one.
“If you can hold pole into turn one then it will be advantageous, but as
always the race is going to be about the tyres and trying to hold on to them
(to avoid degradation).
“These guys (Vettel and Grosjean) are going to be ridiculously fast, so trying
to keep in front or hold on to them is going to be the challenge.”
Vettel conceded “there was not much missing” from his two attempts at pole
before adding that “Lewis did a great job”.
Vettel added: “I was happy with both laps, although the middle sector on the
second lap wasn’t that great.
“But it’s always easy with hindsight to say you could have done more here,
more there.
“Overall, it was just not quick enough. I’d surely love to be a bit faster,
but we’re still in a great place for tomorrow.
“We should have a good race because the car feels fine.”
Grid positions after qualifying:
1 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes 1min 19.388secs
2 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull 1:19.426
3 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Lotus 1:19.595
4 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes 1:19.720
5 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Ferrari 1:19.791
6 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Lotus 1:19.851
7 Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 1:19.929
8 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Toro Rosso 1:20.641
9 Sergio Perez (Mex) McLaren 1:22.398
10 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull No time
11 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India 1:20.569
12 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Sauber 1:20.580
13 Jenson Button (Gbr) McLaren 1:20.777
14 Jean-Eric Vergne (Fra) Toro Rosso 1:21.029
15 Pastor Maldonado (Ven) Williams 1:21.133
16 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Williams 1:21.219
17 Esteban Gutierrez (Mex) Sauber 1:21.724
18 Paul Di Resta (Gbr) Force India 1:22.043
19 Charles Pic (Fra) Caterham 1:23.007
20 Giedo van der Garde (Ned) Caterham 1:23.333
21 Jules Bianchi (Fra) Marussia 1:23.787
22 Max Chilton (Gbr) Marussia 1:23.997
(Edited by Giles Mole)