Sebastian Vettel delivered Red Bull Racing its first Formula 1 pole position with a brilliant last-gasp lap in China, as Jenson Button and Brawn GP’s early stranglehold on the 2009 season was shattered in qualifying.
Completing a new-look order at the head of the field was, totally unexpectedly, Fernando Alonso – Renault’s fortunes seemingly transformed by the introduction of an interim diffuser from Saturday morning’s final practice onwards.
Mark Webber completed RBR’s best ever qualifying session by claiming third in the second RB5 having held provisional pole going into the dying seconds.
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All this meant that hitherto pacesetter Brawn was shuffled down to fourth and fifth, with Rubens Barrichello outqualifying championship leader Button for the first time this season.
Indeed after all the week’s arguments over the teams running two-step diffusers, the other two ‘diffuser gang’ squads were also usurped at the front with Jarno Trulli (Toyota) sixth and Nico Rosberg (Williams) seventh.
And to heighten expectations that the early pacesetting teams may not run away with the championship as feared after all, the sport’s two big guns, Ferrari and McLaren, also showed much-needed improved form. ITV
“On Saturday morning we had a problem with the car,” said Vettel. “The mechanics did a very good job and fixed the car. Basically it is all down to them.
“We have the best position for Sunday but no points yet. There is a long way to go and we have to keep digging.”
World champion Lewis Hamilton will start ninth in his revamped McLaren while Kimi Raikkonen secured eighth in his Ferrari, which was running without KERS for the first time this season. The Press Association
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