Mark Webber gave his team-mate a wake-up call in Korea as he snatched pole position in the final seconds of the Q3 session, after the German had dominated the sessions throughout. Lewis Hamilton was third quickest, a tenth ahead of Fernando Alonso with Kimi Raikkonen in fifth. Felipe Massa, Romain Grosjean, Nico Hulkenberg, Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher completed the top 10.
It comes too often that a silly pilot parks his car in the worst spot of the track thereby ruining the fast laps of a bunch of other pilots. Sure, sometimes you can’t choose, the car breaks down and that’s it. But the Toro Rosso today has carried on for 500 m before stopping nearest possible to a corner! This should be punished!
I just hope Grosjean is circumspect at the start. Raikkonen, Alonso and Hamilton are all in the area where he forgets to brake, ie he makes up about 3 places then hits somebody. It would be tragic if this race (and WDC/WCC standings) are decided by a crash.
Quite conceivably the WDC standings have already.
Agreed, Nigel. I’m just glad Mark’s a long way from Romain this race!
Great to see on the BBC Eddie Jordan failing to catch Grosjean for an interview and almost falling down a drain hole in the process. Perhaps the BBC might also tell him that his flies looked undone for most of the broadcast, so he might need to change his tailor for the next race or get larger sized trousers (not that I’m looking of course).
Well done Mark by the way.
Sebastian is probably the pre-eminent qualifier of this grid and looks likely to remain that way for years to come. So Mark must be overjoyed that he can hook up a lap. I notice on Sky when they played Vettel’s argument with his engineer, he really betrays his age and petulance again. If he can overcome this character flaw, it will be pretty deadly.
Only sad thing for Mark is he can expect team orders to switch the order round if Vettel can’t overtake him in short order. Red Bull may claim they won’t be using team orders, but they have done many times and it at least makes sense now with Vettel their clear chance of dominating this championship.
If it was Sebbo doing that lap at that particular moment on the track, it would have been 4 tenths faster than Webbo managed. Has to be said.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda.
Isn’t Mark Webber told by stauncher Seb Vettel fans constantly, “Just do it – or stow it Mark”. Webber does it, and suddenly it was only due to circumstances. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t.
The uncomforatable reality for Vettel uber-fans is that the qualification battle between these two is pretty much ‘even-Stevens’ in 2012. Credit where credit is due, surely…. Jack Flash.
I’m surprised that there hasn’t been much said about the drivers that did their fastest laps on a yellow flag. At first view, Button seems a victim of following the rules and spirit of yellow flags more than others.
Any news about possible penalties for fastest sectors being set during yellow flags? I’m guessing as there is no news at this time that everyone has argued successfully that they lifted. Thanks
I think that Mark could well be subject to team orders during the race.
Time for team orders at RB.
Joe,
saw you Last night (US east coast time) on Speed walking the grid at Suzuka complaining about the lack of grid girls, you looked like you where having fun!… it put a smile on my face, it seemed like you, D.T. and Buxton where having a good time at the office.
F1 is always fun.
I’m chuffed to see Mark Webber on pole and hope Red Bull lets them race.
I was also entertained by E.J’s trousers. You’d have thought the director might have mentioned something. Perhaps ludicrously tight leggings are de rigueur for BBC presenters.
By the way, how is your computer?
Half dead. The screen is dead but am working around the problem for the weekend!
Go Mark. Lead from flag to flag.
Sebestian won… again