Vettel continues Red Bull dominance in qualifying

Sebastian Vettel has secured yet another pole position for his team in Saturday’s Italian Grand Prix qualifying in Monza, keeping Red Bull’s 100 per cent record in 2011. The German was dominant throughout the whole session and finished first with a 0.450 seconds advantage over Lewis Hamilton.

Vettel started Q3 taking top place away from Jenson Button, but failed to make a successful second attempt to better his time when he made a small mistake at Ascari. Hamilton then got closer to the world champion which made the German go for another attempt. While Vettel improved further 0.388s away from the McLarens, the two Brits both had to abort their laps with Hamilton locking up his front-left heading into the second chicane and Button losing time in the final sector.

Fernando Alonso for Ferrari was the fourth quickest of the session very close to Button after his last attempt. Webber closed the top-five, with positions two to fifth within 0.350s.

The second of the Ferrari’s, Felipe Massa, was sixth followed by a surprising Vitaly Petrov who managed to beat both of the Mercedes. Michael Schumacher was faster than his team mate Nico Rosberg, taking to his advantage a fastest pace in sector two. The two Germans finished ahead of Bruno Senna who opted not to run Q3 after using his available tyre options to reach the last part of the session.

Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil who had looked as challengers for a top ten finish in qualifying finished in 11^th and 12^th respectively with the final efforts from the two Renaults denying them the chance to run Q3.

Rubens Barrichello was quicker than his team mate Pastor Maldonado to take 13^th place, with hos team mate being lucky even to make it to the second part of the session after spinning into a barrier at Parabolica after losing control of his car.

The two Saubers of Sergio Pérez and Kamui Kobayashi and Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi completed the top 18, never threatening to make it into Q3.

Jaime Alguersuari didn’t make it yet again into the Q2 joining the already common presences of team’s Lotus, Virgin and HRT.