Vettel Takes 6th Pole in Canada

MONTREAL, Canada- R.I.S.- It might be across the Atlantic from Europe, but it did not deter current World Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel, as the German captured his 21st career pole and his sixth of seven races in the final session with a time of 1:13:014 for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Canada at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Ferrari drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa finished second and third respectively, their best qualifying performance this season.

“I think we made up some ground from last year, but I had a rough start from yesterday.” Replied Vettel. “It is a tricky track, and we had a smooth qualifying, and it is a big step. P1 is the best possible start for tomorrow.”

Vettel never began well in the first couple of sessions, but Alonso and Massa were on their game, as the Spaniard set the fastest time in the first session with a 1:13:822, while his Brazilian teammate improved it even better with a 1:13:341.

“We can do it step by step and it is the best result for the team.” Said Alonso. “It is the best result in the first six races. Conditions are likely to change, and it is the best to start for tomorrow.”

For Massa, it was his best performance for the year. But he quickly stressed that anything could still happen.

“It was and a very good weekend and we were competitive, and I think that is really great for us compared to the other races. The weather can be good or bad weather, and we can be good.”

Mark Webber was fourth, while Lewis Hamilton, who had won the pole three years in a row, could only manage fifth. Nico Rosberg was an impressive sixth in his Mercedes, while Jenson Button was seventh, Michael Schumacher drove a wild qualifying lap to eighth, just ahead of Renault drivers Nick Heidfeld and Vitaly Petrov, who rounded out the top ten.

“This is not our best circuit,” said Vettel afterwards, “but I think we can be very confident and the pace is in the car. And we are ready to fight, and hopefully we can do it tomorrow.”