ABU DHABI:
Australia Mark Webber grabbed the 13th pole position of his career yesterday when he clocked the fastest lap in a tense qualifying session as Red Bull swept the front row of the grid for today’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 37-year-old, who retires from Formula One at the end of the season, recorded one minute 39.957 seconds to edge out newly-crowned quadruple world champion teammate Sebastian Vettel.
Webber, who will start from the front of the grid for only the second time this season, equalled the Australian record of 13 poles set by Alan Jones, who was celebrating his 67th birthday yesterday.
In a thrilling finale to an intriguing day, the two Red Bull men crossed the line after the chequered flag to clock their best laps, but battling Briton Lewis Hamilton failed to do the same as he spun his Mercedes in the final part of his lap.
“Fantastic guys, thank you for a fantastic job,” said Webber on the Red Bull team radio.
“Not the smoothest path to the start of Q2 or Q1, we were not electric, but we changed the car quite a bit and I got more and more comfortable as the session went on.”
Hamilton ended up fourth and will start alongside his Mercedes teammate German Nico Rosberg, who was third fastest.
“Something broke at the rear of the car,” said a disappointed Hamilton, who has twice previously taken pole at the spectacular Yas Marina circuit.
Ferrari-bound Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus was fifth ahead of German Nico Hulkenberg of Sauber with Frenchman Romain Grosjean seventh in the second Lotus.
Brazilian Felipe Massa was eighth fastest ahead of Mexican Sergio Perez of McLaren and 10th placed Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Toro Rosso.
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