Daniel Ricciardo, the young Australian who will succeed compatriot Webber at
Red Bull next season, was seventh ahead of the two McLarens of Mexican
Sergio Perez and Briton Jenson Button, with Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne
completing the top 10 for Toro Rosso.
On another hot late summer’s day in the old royal park, Vettel was in dominant
form in Q1, setting the pace ahead of the McLaren pair of Rosberg and
Hamilton.
The air temperature was a balmy 30 degrees celsius, but on the track it was 43
degrees.
As if any confirmation of the level of competition was needed, it was shown by
the fact that the top 15 drivers were separated by just seven-tenths of a
second.
A late fast lap from Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado saw him carry his Williams
into Q2 and avoid the cut which claimed exits for Mexican Esteban Gutierrez
of Sauber, Finn Valtteri Bottas in the second Williams, the two Caterhams of
Dutchman Giedo Van Der Garde and Frenchman Charles Pic and the two Marussias
of Frenchman Jules Bianchi and Briton Max Chilton.
Alonso showed he and Ferrari were in shape when he clocked 1:24.227 to go top
before Vettel responded with 1:23.977 in a busy session that saw Hamilton
run off the track at the Parabolica and miss the cut for the top 10 shootout.
He ran wide at the corner and bounced through the gravel at high speed, but
managed to retain control and avoid hitting the barriers.
It was enough to wreck his bid for a fifth straight pole, and though he
recovered, he could not improve on 12th after finding himself trapped behind
Adrian Sutil’s Force India car.
It was the first time in 67 races, excluding penalties, that Hamilton had
failed to make the cut to Q3.
“I just drove like an idiot,” said Hamilton. “That’s the worst I’ve driven for
a long, long time and I’m sorry, for the team. Yes, I was impeded, but
there’s nothing you can do about it.
“I should have done a lap before that. I just didn’t drive well and there’s
not really much more I can say. I’ll do whatever I can, but it’s going to be
tough.”
Out with the 2008 champion went the 2007 title winner, Finn Kimi Raikkonen of
Lotus, who was 11th, Frenchman Romain Grosjean of Lotus, Sutil, Maldonado
and Briton Paul Di Resta in the second Force India.
(Edited by Kristian Walsh)