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| Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates taking pole position after the qualifying session for the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 23, 2013. (Xinhua/Zhang Wenzong) |
SEPANG, Malaysia, March 23 (Xinhua) -- German driver Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull will start the Malaysian Grand Prix on pole position after becoming the fastest driver in qualifying on Saturday for the second consecutive time this season.
The youngest three-time world champion won his 38th pole position by setting the fastest lap time of 1 minute 49.674 seconds in the rain-hit third round of qualifying at the Sepang International Circuit, ahead of the two Ferrari drivers, Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso.
The top ten drivers started the third qualifying session with wet tyres as shower hit the race during the previous session.
"It was a decent lap," Vettel told a press conference after the qualifying session. "Obviously it was quite tricky because some parts of the track were still wet and the other were dry."
He said he's team managed to save some tyres, which could be "crucial" for the race on Sunday.
Vettel secured the pole position last week in the first race of the season, but only came home at the third place.
"If you start in the front, you always want to finish there as well," he said. "Managing the tyres will be crucial tomorrow. We know the paces is there so hopefully we will get to the chequered flag in the same position."
Massa will start ahead of his teammate Alonso for the second time this season after Australian Grand Prix. He admitted that the rain had helped his team in the qualifying.
Alonso, who won the last Malaysian Grand Prix in 2012, said the performance of the Ferrari cars in the long run was a little bit inconsistent, but "no reason not to be optimistic" as the cars were in good pace in Melbourne.
He said he would try to do a good race and score as many point as possible.
British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes was on the fourth place, starting next to Alonso on Sunday, followed by Mark Webber, another Red Bull driver.
Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen, who won last week in Melbourne with an impressive two stoppers, ranked in the seventh place. However, he will start on the tenth place after being handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Nico Rosberg of Mercedes in the qualifying.
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