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Vettel Wins Pole In Korea

YEONGAM, South Korea- As it has been week after week, Sebastian Vettel continues to edge closer to taking his fourth consecutive world driving championship after the German recorded a 1:37: 202 fastest time in pole position for Sunday’s Korean Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton was second, and Mark Webber took third, but will be forced to start 13th on race day because of an infraction.

“It was close today.” Stated Vettel. “I had a very good lap in Q3 on my first attempt and thought I would find it hard to do better. On my second attempt I caught Kimi (Raikkonen) on the warm up lap and didn’t have time to drop back, but fortunately the first lap was good enough. Mercedes were strong and seem to be comfortable in the middle sector. We’re good in Sector one this year which a surprise as that’s mostly straights.”

It seemed a huge surprise that Vettel was not in the mix at the beginning of the qualifying sessions, which began on a hazy afternoon. The best time of the session was Raikkonen, who had his best lap at a 1:38:341, while the bottom three teams on the grid, Williams, along with regulars Caterham and Marussia, failed to advance.

Vettel afterwards, had no trouble in finding his rhythm .which resulted him winning the second session at 1:37:541. Both Mclaren drivers of Jenson Button and Sergio Perez did not make it into the final session, while Force India’s Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil joined them failing to advance.

Vettel waited in the final session with five minutes to go, before he managed to set his best time in qualifying of 1:37:202, which gave his Renault powered engine its 202nd pole position, which ties Ferrari in all-time front row victories. Romain Grosjean took fourth on the grid, but will be promoted to third, because or Webber’s penalty. Nico Rosberg took fifth, while the Ferrari pair of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa finished in sixth and seventh, respectively. Nico Hulkenberg and Estaban Gutierrez took an impressive eighth and ninth in their Sauber’s , while Raikkonen rounded out the top ten.

Vettel was confident about race day, but still wondered if a typhoon nearby, which is missing the race area on Sunday, could be an effect on the track with its rain.

“We improved the car from yesterday as I wasn’t entirely happy with it after the second practice.” Said Vettel. “In terms of conditions, we should be okay if it’s dry or wet tomorrow; it’s not clear if we get some rain from the typhoon, but let’s see what happens.”

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