Webber breaks Vettel's quali streak in Spain

BARCELONA, Spain- Taking advantage of a track he won on last season, Mark Webber posted a 1:20:981 fastest lap time, breaking Sebastian Vettel’s pole position streak at five Saturday afternoon to edge his teammate and start on the front row for Sunday’s Santander Grand Prix of Spain at the Circuit de Catalunya. Lewis Hamilton, who flat spotted a tire on turn 10, survived to finish third.

“It was a good session,” said Webber. “It was clear that we would have a clear chance, and we got through on the hards. It was getting the lap right, and it was a nice lap and it just was my day.”

Both Red Bull cars were not very visible in the first session, which had many firsts. Michael Schumacher posted his first best time of the period, with a 1:22:960, while F1 rookie Pastor Maldonado finished his best of the year in second. Renault driver Vitaly Petrov was an impressive third. While the Russian was succeeding, his Germ,an teammate, Nick Heidfeld could not come out onto the track at all, still having trouble from the early morning practice session, when his car developed a fire that could not be fixed. For the other Lotus team, it was a happy moment as Heikki Kovalainen moved on to the second session with a 17th place finish.

The second session began slowly, as the Spanish fans waited impatiently for the cars to appear. But when they finally came out, it was Vettel, with a time of 1: 21: 540 that led the way. Maldonado impressed with an eighth place finish that moved him into the final session for the first time in his Williams.

Vettel began the last session with no KERS , but still managed to head the best time, until his Australian teammate managed to beat it, with an impressive time that was four tenths quicker than his posted time last season to win his first pole since Spa last August and break Vettel’s record at five straight this season.

Considering that the world champion was visibly upset because he could not go out onto the track at the last moment, Vettel kept his composure.

“I do not think we can talk about streaks”, he said. “We lack this track and are very comfortable. It was not the smoothest run, and I lost too much. Mark did a good job and tomorrow is a long race. We will see what we could do.”

Hamilton realized that his McLaren was not as superior as the top two cars, but was pleased that his team out qualified Ferrari.

“I do have a flat spot but fortunately I can start the race.” Said Hamilton. “The gaps from the red bulls have increased and the guys are working very hard. They have a second in qualifying and we will push as hard as we can. .But we did out qualify Ferrari, and that was good for us.”

 Fernando Alonso was fourth on his home turf for the prancing horse, and was very happy that his car could be finally in the second row. Jenson Button was fifth in his Mclaren, while Petrov was sixth. Nico Rosberg placed seventh in his Mercedes, while Massa took eighth in the second Ferrari. Maldonado ended his great day in ninth, while Schumacher never went out in the final session and took tenth.

 Webber knew that he does well on this track, but was willing to take one step at a time.

“I will be going in relaxed tonight and will come back tomorrow. In the end I have a lot of experience” he said.