Shanghai: Nico Rosberg of Mercedes stormed to a career-first pole position for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, edging out McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and the fellow Mercedes of Michael Schumacher.
It was Rosberg’s first pole in 110 attempts of Formula One racing, with a time of one minute 35.121sec. Hamilton clocked 1:35.626, but will be back in seventh on the grid after earning a penalty for changing his gearbox.
It means the two Germans and two Mercedes of Rosberg and Schumacher, the seven-times world champion, will line up on the front grid together.
There was a major shock, however, with Sebastian Vettel, the two-time reigning world champion, failing to make the third qualifying stage with his surprisingly lacklustre time of 1:36.031.
“It went really well and it’s a very special feeling,” said Rosberg, 26, who has never been on pole and never won a race.
The German could only manage seventh on the grid in the first two races of the season, in Australia and Malaysia, before sliding down the field to end the two races 12th and 13th respectively.
Hamilton, who has said he was relishing starting further back as a result of his five-place grid penalty, admitted he would need to do something special to catch the two Mercedes at a dry but cool Shanghai International Circuit.
Meanwhile, Sahara Force Indian drivers Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg will start in the eighth row on the grid in tomorrow’s Chinese Grand Prix Formula One race after finishing 15th and 16th.
Di Resta clocked 1:36.317 to finish 15th in the second qualifying session (Q2), a place ahead of his teammate Hulkenberg ( 1:36.745).
HRT’s Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan finished 24th and last, clocking 1 minute 41 seconds in the Q1 qualifying session and he will start last on the grid in the 12th row tomorrow. Di Resta rued that a gain of fraction of a second would have resulted a better position on the grid. (Agencies)
