Red Bull’s double Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel roared to a record 15th pole position of the season at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday.
The 24-year-old German, who had equaled Nigel Mansell’s 1992 record of 14 in a single season at the previous race in Abu Dhabi, led Australian teammate Mark Webber in a front row sweep for the champions.
“Yes baby, we’ve got it. This feels incredible,” he yelled over the team radio on his slowing-down lap after a dry qualifying session despite the threat of rain.
“I was very emotional when I crossed the line because I knew this was all I had, I gave it all,” he said.
“It’s really special, different to the other poles,” added Vettel, who wrapped up his second title last month with four races to spare, of his 30th career pole.
Vettel was the only driver to lap inside 1 minute, 12 seconds, with a best lap of 1 minute, 11.918 seconds compared to Webber’s 1 minute, 12.099 seconds.
“Obviously it took the master in that discipline, Nigel Mansell, a couple of races less,” Vettel added, mindful of the fact that Britain’s 1992 champion took his 15 poles in a season of just 16 races rather than 19.
“I tried to help old Nigel out today,” said Webber, who has yet to win a race this year despite setting more fastest laps than anyone.
However, he still fancied his chances in the season-ender, mindful perhaps that only twice in the past 10 years has the winner started on pole at Interlagos.
“Seb did a good lap as usual, but my lap was pretty good as well to be honest,” Webber said.
McLaren’s Jenson Button will start in third place, next to fellow-Briton and teammate Lewis Hamilton, after his best qualifying performance at Interlagos in six years.
“Hopefully we can get these two tomorrow,” said Button, who won his 2009 title at Sao Paulo’s ramshackle, but hugely atmospheric circuit.
“A big thanks to the team today. I want to say a big thank you to them for the whole season,” Button said, adding with a smile that he was just saying that now in case something prevented him racing.
The Englishman escaped unhurt from an attempted attack by armed robbers as he was being driven away from the circuit last year after qualifying.
Vettel’s pole meant Red Bull closed out the season with a record 18 poles in 19 races, with Hamilton, the 2008 champion, the only driver apart from the German and Webber to start from the top slot this year.
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, Button’s main rival for second place overall in the championship, qualified fifth with Germany’s Nico Rosberg sixth for Mercedes.
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