Published: Saturday April 18, 2009 MYT 3:18:00 PM
Updated: Saturday April 18, 2009 MYT 4:42:59 PM

Vettel takes pole for Chinese GP

SHANGHAI (AP) - Sebastian Vettel secured pole position Saturday for the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix, delivering the first pole ever for the Red Bull team and the second of the young German's career.

Vettel set a best time of 1 minute, 36.184 seconds at the Shanghai International Circuit to start Sunday from the front of the for Sunday's race.

Renault's Fernando Alonso will start second on the grid, ahead of Red Bull's Mark Webber and Brawn's Rubens Barrichello.

It was a remarkable performance by the Red Bull team, which experienced a driveshaft failure on both cars in Saturday morning's pre-qualifying practice before rebounding to emerge as clearly the quickest team in both the second and third qualifying sessions.

Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany reacts after qualifying in pole position for the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China, Saturday.AP

The car problem meant Vettel had only one flying lap in each of the three sessions, leaving no margin for error.

"You don't need more, but it was not easy," Vettel said. "We had a problem with the car, we tried to run as little as possible.

"I hope the boys can fix it. I hope both our cars are up to it tomorrow."

Alonso split the Red Bull pair, after the Renault team fitted a new diffuser on his car in an all-night session by team mechanics. Renault had also abandoned the problematical KERS power-boost system for this race.

"We didn't know how the car would respond and we are extremely happy with the result," Alonso said.

Championship leader Jenson Button of Brawn was fifth fastest and Toyota's Jarno Trulli sixth.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen will start eighth and teammate Felipe Massa from 13th.

Williams' Nico Rosberg - quickest in Saturday morning practice _ qualified seventh, while reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton was ninth in his McLaren.-AP

Chinese Grand Prix results

SHANGHAI (AP) - Qualifying results Saturday for Sunday's Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the 5.5-kilometer (3.4-mile) Shanghai International circuit (with driver, country, car, fastest lap time): Qualifying= 1. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Red Bull, 1 minute 36.184 seconds.

2. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Renault, 1:36.381.

3. Mark Webber, Australia, Red Bull, 1:36.466.

4. Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Brawn, 1:36.493.

5. Jenson Button, England, Brawn, 1:36.532.

6. Jarno Trulli, Italy, Toyota, 1:36.835.

7. Nico Rosberg, Germany, Williams, 1:37.397.

8. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Ferrari, 1:38.089.

9. Lewis Hamilton, England, McLaren, 1:38.595.

10. Sebastien Buemi, Switzerland, Toro Rosso, 1:39.321. Eliminated in second qualifying session=

11. Nick Heidfeld, Germany, BMW, 1:35.975.

12. Heikki Kovalainen, Finland, McLaren, 1:36.032.

13. Felipe Massa, Brazil, Ferrari, 1:36.033.

14. Timo Glock, Germany, Toyota, 1:36.066.

15. Kazuki Nakajima, Japan, Williams, 1:36.193. Eliminated in first qualifying session=

16. Sebastien Bourdais, France, Toro Rosso, 1:36.906.

17. Nelson Piquet Jnr., Brazil, Renault, 1:36.908.

18. Robert Kubica, Poland, BMW, 1:36.966.

19. Adrian Sutil, Germany, Force India, 1:37.669.

20. Giancarlo Fisichella, Italy, Force India, 1:37.672.

Third Practice Session

1. Nico Rosberg, Germany, Williams, 1 minute 36.133 seconds, 17 laps.

2. Jarno Trulli, Italy, Toyota, 1:36.272, 22.

3. Lewis Hamilton, England, McLaren, 1:36.330, 17.

4. Jenson Button, England, Brawn, 1:36.463, 16.

5. Nelson Piquet Jnr., Renault, 1:36.464, 16.

6. Felipe Massa, Brazil, Ferrari, 1:36.528, 18.

7. Heikki Kovalainen, Finland, McLaren, 1:36.547, 13.

8. Kazuki Nakajima, Japan, Williams, 1:36.560, 17.

9. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Ferrari, 1:36.568, 17.

10. Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Brawn, 1:36.642, 17.

11. Nick Heidfeld, Germany, BMW, 1:36.702, 14.

12. Robert Kubica, Poland, BMW, 1:36.742, 14.

13. Sebastien Buemi, Switzerland, Toro Rosso, 1:36.742, 16.

14. Sebastien Bourdais, France, Toro Rosso, 1:36.834, 17.

15. Mark Webber, Australia, Red Bull, 1:37.330, 8.

16. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Red Bull, 1:37.349, 7.

17. Adrian Sutil, Germany, Force India, 1:37.534, 17.

18. Giancarlo Fisichella, Italy, Force India, 1:37.732, 18.

19. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Renault, 1:38.003, 6.

20. Timo Glock, Germany, Toyota, 1:39.110, 6.

Earlier Report

Rosberg fastest in final practice for Shanghai Formula 1

SHANGHAI: Williams' Nico Rosberg set the fastest time in Saturday's pre-qualifying practice session ahead of Sunday's Chinese Formula One Grand Prix.

Rosberg set a best time of 1 minute, 36.133 seconds around the Shanghai International Circuit, meaning he had the fastest practice time in at least one session of each of the three races this season.

Toyota's Jarno Trulli was second fastest, 0.14 seconds behind Rosberg, although there was greater concern in the garage about teammate Timo Glock.

Glock completed only six laps after complaining of a gearbox problem.

If a new gearbox is required, he will be moved five places back on the grid from his ultimate qualifying position.

Aside from Glock, the Red Bull pair Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel did little running in the final practice due to a drive shaft failure on both cars.

Renault's Fernando Alonso also took little part, with the team trying to fit a redesigned diffuser to his car.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton was third best in Saturday's practice, ahead of English compatriot Jenson Button of Brawn.

Renault's Nelson Piquet Jr. was unusually prominent at fifth on the timesheets, while Ferrari's Felipe Massa sixth.

McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen and Williams' Kazuki Nakajima rounded out the top eight.

Rosberg's session-best time came after an embarrassing start, as the German got beached in the gravel trap at the top of the entry to pit lane - the same trap that caught out Hamilton in 2007, ultimately costing him the title. - AP

Practice results Saturday for Sunday's Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the 5.5-kilometer (3.4-mile) Shanghai International circuit (with driver, country, car, fastest lap time and laps completed):

Third Practice Session=