Alonso blasts to second pole in a row

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was the quickest in Saturday's qualifying session at the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore. Although he had to go the boxes and trim his F10's gearbox in Q2, the Spaniard ran the fastest lap of Q3 to clinch his second pole in a row.

In Sunday's race Alonso will be joined in the first row by Sebastian Vettel, with the McLaren's of Hamilton and Button taking the second row. The top five contenders to the world championship title took the top-five spots in the starting grid, with championship leader Mark Webber occupying the last one.

Vettel was on a hot lap at the end of the session, he was fastest on the first sector of the lap but his momentum faded until the end, just missing the best time for 0.063s.

Although Ferrari had reasons to celebrate thanks to the pole from Alonso, the team also had reasons to worry as Felipe Massa will be starting tomorrow's race from last position due to suspected engine problem in Q1.

Rubens Barrichello will be starting alongside Mark Webber on the third row, while his team-mate failed to secure a spot in the last qualifying. Hulkenberg was the 12th fastest behind Sebastien Buemi, but with a five-place penalty he will start the race in 17th.

Mercedes got both their cars into the last ten in qualifying. Nico Rosberg was the seventh quickest, while Michael Schumacher finished ninth. Rober Kubica was in the middle of both Mercedes' drivers, while Sauber's Kobayashi closed the top-ten.