Double world champion Sebastian Vettel dug deep to capture the pole position in the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi, Saturday and equal Nigel Mansell is a 1992 single season record of 14.
The German, 24, who has won his second title with Red Bull, saved his best for last after McLaren's Lewis Hamilton was fastest in the first two stages of the practice and qualifying finals. Hamilton will start the penultimate race of the season and in the front row with his teammate and fellow Briton Jenson Button third. Australian Mark Webber Red Bull, apparently no closer to a first win of the season, lines up fourth.
The pole was 29 his career as Vettel and 17 in 18 races this year for Red Bull. "I think it will be a fun race time," said Vettel, who won two of the races so far in the Yas Marina circuit, where he won the pole last year to become the youngest champion in Formula One
"They will be very fast in the race ... It will be a long battle for the checkered flag," he said, smiling at the McLaren drivers are sitting on opposite sides in the post qualifying press conference. "I am confident and ready. We expected when we came straight to be closer, much closer than in practice, "added the German, which hit the barrier on Friday.
"I felt there was more in the car and we just had to access it. Night, we tried to find where the problem was, and this afternoon it was already much better. "
Hamilton overtook
Hamilton, who lapped just nine thousandths of a second quicker than Button, seemed to have done enough for his second pole of the season in trouble, but Vettel topped him at the finish line. "I am satisfied now," said Hamilton. "And to have no penalties, is a blessing for me."
Ferrari double world champion Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, his teammate shared the third row, with the latter away from Hamilton after six clashes between the two this year.
The next event is also observed in pairs, the Mercedes' Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher, seventh and eighth, and the Force India of Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta ninth and tenth.
Struggling former champion Williams, with a narrow five points from 17 races are the worst display of the F-1 meets the row after a Brazilian Rubens Barrichello failed to take a ride in
"We had a new engine this morning and he was looking good. We went out and had problems after two rounds (in practice). We tried to assess the situation, but before the qualification of the team said there was no way we could get out, "said Barrichello.
His team-mate of Venezuela Pastor Maldonado qualified 17, but instead a penalty period of 10 exceeds the share of its engine.
Grid positions: Rating (top 10): 1. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) 1:38.481 2. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 1:38.622, 3. Jenson Button (McLaren) 1:38.631, 4. Mark Webber (Red Bull) 1:38.858, 5. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 1:39.058, 6. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 1:39.695, 7. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1:39.773, 8. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) 1:40.662, 9. Adrian Sutil (Force India) 1:40.768, 10. Paul di Resta (Force India) 1:40.874.
The McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in final practice in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Saturday, beating the world champion Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel.
Britain clocked 1 minute, 38.976 seconds, 5.5 km (3.5 miles) Yas Marina Circuit on Friday, making it 0.427 seconds faster than Vettel of Germany.
Vettel teammate Mark Webber in third place, while teammate Hamilton Jenson Button came in a disappointing fourth. Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso have been even worse, as they struggled with the handling on the track of the desert and was fifth and seventh respectively.
Hamilton seems to be the driver to beat this weekend, the score of the best times in two of the three practices.
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