As if it was ever in doubt, Sebastian Vettel will start tomorrow’s European Grand Prix from pole position, after inching out teammate Mark Webber in a straightforward qualifying session in Valencia. Just behind the two Red Bulls, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso fill out the second row of the grid, with Felipe Massa taking a decent fifth and Jenson Button a disappointing sixth. Rosberg, Schumacher, Heidfeld and Sutil also made it into the top ten.
There was talk before the session that this could be the end of Red Bull’s qualifying dominance, with a new rule that prohibits changing the cars’ engine mapping between qualifying and the race brought into play. But even that wasn’t enough to stop the finger-wagging German, who’s now half way to equalling Nigel Mansell’s world record of 14 pole positions in a single season.
So, who’s going to win it? With passing tricky on Valencia’s winding streets, another Vettel walkover looks pretty much inevitable. But with two world champions right behind him (one of whom we’ve heard doesn’t shy away from a tangle), could the blonde bombshell be pressured into another race-ruining error when the lights go out? Have a chew over the full qualifying results, then drop us a comment to let us know how you reckon it’s going to go down tomorrow. Oh, and don’t miss our live blog of the race, starting at 12.30pm tomorrow.
1. Sebastian Vettel
2. Mark Webber
3. Lewis Hamilton
4. Fernando Alonso
5. Felipe Massa
6. Jenson Button
7. Nico Rosberg
8. Michael Schumacher
9. Nick Heidfeld
10. Adrian Sutil
11. Vitaly Petrov
12. Paul Di Resta
13. Rubens Barrichello
14. Kamui Kobayashi
15. Pastor Maldonado
16. Sergio Perez
17. Sebastien Buemi
18. Jaime Alguersuari
19. Heikki Kovalainen
20. Jarno Trulli
21. Timo Glock
22. Vitantonio Liuzzi
23. Jerome d’Ambrosio
24. Narain Karthikeyan
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What do you think?
num1fan commented on this article
Saturday June 25, 2011 at 4:46 pm
yeah Vettel cracks under pressure, he is no good in tough situation, he is only good because his car is good ….
how silly people can be, look into his career .. Vettel has the 2nd best career on the grid, next to the best driver F1 had ever seen, Michael Schumacher. Even better than Alansos career.. facts people.
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ARTaken commented on this article
Saturday June 25, 2011 at 5:34 pm
The team with the good management the best engineers and crew with a top driver is a winning combination. We saw it season to season.. now we see it with Vettel.
When Hamilton claimed his championship in 2008 it was so, when Alanso and Renault had their run, it was so and when JB and Brawn did their thing, it was so.
Every champ had a superior car and the top team, so does vettel.. the team and driver are a combination.. there are no one man shows in F1, its a team oriented sport… making a point before all the haters start basing Vettel like they do when he does well and when he makes mistakes.
So it was with Mansel, Senna and Schumi.. While these drivers were on top there were other great drivers in the team, and it is so today, still Vettel is the man of the moment.
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num1fan commented on this article
Saturday June 25, 2011 at 6:25 pm
I bet if Mclarens JB or Ham has got pole, this would be on the topgear’s home page .. just like when button won in Canada… wonder why that is?
Vettel wins, not on home page, JB or Ham wins, its on Homepage.. not cool.
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awwww poor lulu fans commented on this article
Saturday June 25, 2011 at 8:13 pm
Are you going to start crying now???
Why don’t all you lulu lovers go back to watching football? because you failed by trying to be glory hunters in this sport.
Next Senna? HAH! more like the next Villneuve…
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num1fan commented on this article
Saturday June 25, 2011 at 8:18 pm
maybe better than senna in a few rs after he has a couple more champs under his belt and more records and break a few more records like he already has.. just saying
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formuladude commented on this article
Saturday June 25, 2011 at 8:27 pm
responding to num1fan,s first comment it seems as if alonso did better with renault then with ferrari when ferrari are effectively menna be the better team than renault. just a mention for BBC team,you dont need to just solely focus on wimbledon cos its the least popular tournament ever. 50,000,000 people will be tuning in tomorrow for the race for gods sake you weiredos
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formuladude commented on this article
Saturday June 25, 2011 at 8:28 pm
bbc news team,that is
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mclarenf1 commented on this article
Saturday June 25, 2011 at 9:05 pm
i still believe hams gonna make some stupid mistake. button for the win here too. such amazing form… and we know the mp4-26 is the best car in race trim now. rb7 may have qualifying. but i think buttons going to pull thru again. alonso for 2nd.
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NeuR32 commented on this article
Saturday June 25, 2011 at 9:21 pm
The MP4-26 is the fastest car on the grid yes. Thats a fact and one reason why this season is going to have an amazing mid season. McLaren have had the best pace for the past 5 races. I dont see them going backwards, just getting faster. With Lewis and Jenson behind the wheels, its going to be a great season, it already is.
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num1fan commented on this article
Saturday June 25, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Renault had a better team and car when alanso won his championships with them.. Ferrari has been struggling for the past few years.
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Onion commented on this article
Saturday June 25, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Look at that lovely pic of the 3 Red Bull drivers together. Past present and future.
I bet the numb nuts changes his mind when he realises the Red Bull don’t work without the blown diffuser. then it’ll be
” i really love Mclaren so much i was never going to leave, this is my home, my family ” Tears, kisses, pay rise, beaten by team mate.
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Superboy commented on this article
Saturday June 25, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Last year I Said That The Top Gear Formula One News Should Be Called ” The Lewis Hamilton Fanclub ” , well I Say This Again Today,..
Also, No One Can Stop Vettel
Also, There Are 5 Germans In The Top 10
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TT1 commented on this article
Sunday June 26, 2011 at 5:02 am
If Vettel would have born in the UK , this Comment Box might look much different.
If you put nationality over rationality, you arent real petrol Heads / F1 Fans.
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NeuR32 commented on this article
Sunday June 26, 2011 at 5:37 am
Vettels lead need to be closed, if he wins just three more races, this season is over. I like the guy, he is the next F1 legend but i want to see some competition. Everyone thought it was going to be Lewis but its not, the guy doesnt have the personality of a Legend. Pressure gets to him, Vettel stays cool and rarely makes mistakes. I love watching him perform but this gap is too big. Come on McLaren and Ferrari.. do something already!
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f1 fan commented on this article
Sunday June 26, 2011 at 6:04 am
i think most people are just happy when someone else wins. This domination is worst than brawns domination, and they had a huge advantage over the field. Here its not such a big advantage but Vettel is winning even if he isnt in the fastest car on track. People are just tired of him winning. Domination is boring, remember Schumi era? It was cool watching him drive and win, he was the best and is the best ever but knowing he was going to win most of the time was a bit dull, same thing here.
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F1 Addict commented on this article
Sunday June 26, 2011 at 6:12 am
Im a Vettel fan, I love watching him race, He is the best driver in the field. He is much more of a well rounded driver than Lewis is, period! and i think all the Lewis fans knows it, even if they wont admit it. Even if Vettel does not win tomorrow, He is still a better driver than Lewis and Jenson.
btw i agree, someone need to put the fight to Vettel and take away some points from his lead, gap is too big.
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ARTaken commented on this article
Sunday June 26, 2011 at 8:26 am
if Mclaren or Ferrari does not step up, RBR/Vettel combo is going to dominate the sport for the foreseeable future.
A great driver does not become a world champion without a great team and a great car. There are many great drivers with the team and car that would showcase their talent.
Button was a back marker, running way in the back of almost every race until Brawn. Not saying Button is a great driver, but he has come to life these past few years.
Vettel was doing really good in a bad car (even winning in it) but now that he has a great car, he is a world champion. There will always be that guy who gets the right car in the right team who be a legend. Here we are, Vettel!
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MB commented on this article
Sunday June 26, 2011 at 11:45 am
Lewis for the Win!!!!!!!!!!!!
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num1fan commented on this article
Sunday June 26, 2011 at 12:37 pm
i agree Lewiss should win, or just someone besides Vettel, just because he is too far ahead of everyone.
the guy is too good the guy iis too good, someone else ftw.
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