Vettel, Webber Take Red Bull 1-2 Grid Spots in Spain

VALENCIA, Spain-RIS - Continuing his run of success As well as his seventh pole of the season, Sebastian Vettel recorded the circuit’s fastest time in history with a 1:36:975 to lead a Red Bull 1-2 for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Europe on the streets of Valencia, Spain.

Along with Vettel’s teammate Mark Webber, McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton took third.

“I think there was a lot of talk that everyone would lose out something.” Replied Vettel speaking about the latest changes in diffuser tactics. “A very good day to have a race here and it will be very tough. The first run was very good and we will have to see what we can do.”

The qualifying began with high temperatures on the track as high as 111 degrees as Vitaly Petrov, Nick Heidfeld and Michael Schumacher did not waste any time to get their cars onto the track. But despite this, the hero of the session was Felipe Massa, who posted a 1:38:413 best time, while the newer teams continued to be eliminated from the first session. Mark Webber continued on, but finished a disappointing 16th.

The second session started out slower than the first, but with only eight minutes to go, Williams driver Pastor Maldonado got his car stuck in second gear and stopped right in the middle of the road between turns 19 and 20, which brought out a red flag which delayed the session for five minutes. But at the conclusion, Vettel posted a 1:37:305 best time while the big surprise of the day was Petrov, who was bumped out of the last qualifying position by Adrian Sutil.Petrov only encountered this happening only once before this season, but did not seem to worried about it afterwards.

“We want to be the top cars in the top ten but we will have good tires” said the Russian.. “But tomorrow is another day. Some people can start last and finish well, but we will see.”

But Vettel remained defiant in his qualifying as the defending world champion took the final qualifying session for the seventh time and gave team Red Bull their eighth consecutive pole position this year, with Webber the only other pole winner back in Spain a few weeks ago.

The two Ferrari drivers, Fernando Alonso and Massa, took fourth and fifth, respectively, while Jenson Button, the last race winner in Canada, was sixth. Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher finished in the next two positions, while Heidfeld and Sutil, who never came out onto the track in the last session, rounded out the grid.

Webber, who had a terrifying accident last season, but espaed unhurt was still pleased about finishing second on the grid.

‘It was pretty good but you have to put everything together to make it count. It is still was not easy and seb (his teammate Sebastian Vettel) is a bit stronger, but it was nice to come here.”

Vettel’s streak continues, but the world champion feels anything can happen tomorrow.

“It depends on where you are it is tricky not once but twice and for those two DRS zones you can try something.” said Vettel afterwards. “It is not clear how overtaking and it is a hard race and it will be hot tomorrow.”