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27th
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Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel dominated all three free practice sessions ahead of the Indian Grand Prix, and then went on to claim the pole position in another Red Bull 1-2, as Mark Webber joins in on the front row.
The German, although he made a mistake during his first run for pole during Q3, was never really in his rivals' reach. Even teammate Webber played second fiddle to his performance.
McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button therefore had to settle for the second row, which they filled up. Behind them, title finalist Fernando Alonso of Ferrari and his lieutenant Felipe Massa managed to grab row 3.
In a scrap for the last positions available in the top 10, Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) and Sergio Pérez (Sauber) earned positions seven and eight, ahead of Pastor Maldonado (Williams), ninth, and Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), tenth. The German finally opted out of posting a lap in the last portion of the qualifying session.
On his home track, Narain Karthikeyan (HRT) managed to avoid starting last. Since he out-qualified Marussia's Charles Pic, he gets to start 23rd.
Qualifying results* - Indian Grand Prix (Buddh International Circuit)
1.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'25"283 - Q3
2.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'25"327 - Q3
3.Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'25"544 - Q3
4.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'25"659 - Q3
5.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'25"773 - Q3
6.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'25"857 - Q3
7.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'26"236 - Q3
8.Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'26"360 - Q3
9.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'26"713 - Q3
10.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - no time - Q3
11.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'26"136 - Q2
12.Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'26"241 - Q2
13.Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'26"331 - Q2
14.Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'26"574 - Q2
15.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'26"777 - Q2
16.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'26"989 - Q2
17.Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'27"219 - Q2
18.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'27"525 - Q1
19.Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'28"756 - Q1
20.Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'29"500 - Q1
21.Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'29"613 - Q1
22.Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'30"592 - Q1
23.Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'30"593 - Q1
24.Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'30"662 - Q1
*Unofficial timing
The German, although he made a mistake during his first run for pole during Q3, was never really in his rivals' reach. Even teammate Webber played second fiddle to his performance.
McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button therefore had to settle for the second row, which they filled up. Behind them, title finalist Fernando Alonso of Ferrari and his lieutenant Felipe Massa managed to grab row 3.
In a scrap for the last positions available in the top 10, Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) and Sergio Pérez (Sauber) earned positions seven and eight, ahead of Pastor Maldonado (Williams), ninth, and Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), tenth. The German finally opted out of posting a lap in the last portion of the qualifying session.
On his home track, Narain Karthikeyan (HRT) managed to avoid starting last. Since he out-qualified Marussia's Charles Pic, he gets to start 23rd.
Qualifying results* - Indian Grand Prix (Buddh International Circuit)
1.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'25"283 - Q3
2.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'25"327 - Q3
3.Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'25"544 - Q3
4.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'25"659 - Q3
5.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'25"773 - Q3
6.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'25"857 - Q3
7.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'26"236 - Q3
8.Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'26"360 - Q3
9.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'26"713 - Q3
10.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - no time - Q3
11.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'26"136 - Q2
12.Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'26"241 - Q2
13.Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'26"331 - Q2
14.Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'26"574 - Q2
15.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'26"777 - Q2
16.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'26"989 - Q2
17.Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'27"219 - Q2
18.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'27"525 - Q1
19.Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'28"756 - Q1
20.Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'29"500 - Q1
21.Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'29"613 - Q1
22.Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'30"592 - Q1
23.Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'30"593 - Q1
24.Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'30"662 - Q1
*Unofficial timing