Sebastian Vettel storms to pole for the Canadian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel has stormed to his 31st career pole for Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix, roughly three tenths ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Fernando Alonso will start the race from 3rd on the grid, after initially looking the favorite to take pole. Pastor Maldonado became the Wall of Champions newest victim, as the Venezuelan driver tapped the wall towards the end of Q2.

The first session began with very little track action, with many of the top teams expecting to be able to progress to Q2 without running the super-soft tyre. Eventually it was Nico Rosberg who became the first driver to exit the pits, whilst behind him Kamui Kobayashi ran slightly wide at turn 1 and brought dirt onto the track. As Rosberg set the first timed lap of the session, the times quickly began to drop as the likes of di Resta, Hamilton, Perez, Hulkenberg and Alonso went fastest. Eventually it was reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel that went fastest with a 01:14.661, as the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne suffered dreadful session joining the usuals suspects in getting eliminated after Q1.

After a momentary lapse of track action, Q2 got underway as Daniel Ricciardo was first out in his Toro Rosso sporting a set a of super-soft tyres. It was Ricciardo who set the first timed lap of the session, before Kobayashi, Rosberg and Hamilton all shared the top sport. However, no-one could stay ahead of the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel, who once again flew to the top with a 01:14.187.

Fernando Alonso was in danger of being eliminated in Q2, as the Spaniard made an error heading into turn 1. With only five minutes of the session remaining, the 2-time World Champion was stuck down in 17th position. However luckily for Ferrari and Alonso, the Spaniard was able to rise above the pressure and go 2nd safely through to the qualifying shootout.

Towards the end of the session, Jenson Button was in serious danger of also being eliminated from qualifying. As Bruno Senna came across the line and demoted the Brit to 10th, Pastor Maldonado had the opportunity to eliminate Button and himself progress through to Q3. However it was not to be for the Spanish Grand Prix winner, who made a school-boy error through the final chicane and lightly tapped the Wall of Champions which in turn saw the Venezuelan driver spin with serious right-rear tyre damage.

After two sessions, all attention now turned to the final top-10 shootout which would determine who would start on pole-position. Lewis Hamilton was first out for McLaren, whereas Paul di Resta only completed an out lap before returning to the pits. As Hamilton completed the first timed lap of the session with a 01:19.523, Nico Rosberg shot straight to the top with a scintillating 01:14.664 which was later bettered by the Ferrari of Felipe Massa.

Lewis Hamilton momentarily returned to the top with a 01:14.439, however no-one could stop reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel who flew straight to the top with a 01:13.905. The German then capitalized on his that time with a further 01:13.784, which was unbeatable as the rest of the pack completed their flying laps. Paul di Resta eventually set a time for Force India, as Jenson Button remained in the pits after setting his initial time, a move which will see the 2009 World Champion only qualify 10th for tomorrows race.

Naturally in Formula 1 everyone’s aim in qualifying is to qualify on pole, however around Montreal’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve the pole man has only won three times in the last 10 years. With this the case, there is more than enough incentive for the likes of Hamilton, Alonso, Webber and Rosberg to take victory away from Vettel in tomorrows race.

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