German Sebastian Vettel secured his second pole position of the season and 32nd of his career on Saturday when he clocked the fastest time during qualifying for Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix.
The 24-year-old Red Bull driver, last year’s pole-winner, scorched to the front of the grid in dramatic style with a fastest lap of the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in one minute 13.784 seconds.
Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren was second, closely followed by championship leader Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari.
Australian Mark Webber was fourth fastest in the second Red Bull followed by German Nico Rosberg of Mercedes.
“I think we have learned a couple of lessons from the last few races where we were quick but we didn’t get it out of the car in qualifying,” said Vettel, who is hoping to become the first driver to win two races this season.
Vettel’s time was a third of a second quicker than Hamilton.
Webber said he was surprised to have finished so high up the grid.
“I wasn’t super happy with the last few runs in terms of confidence in the car and that means you don’t get the most out of yourself, so fourth is okay,” Webber said.
“It’s a long race and we’re up there. Seb did a very good lap. The car’s good here and the weather should be good tomorrow for the race.”
On a glorious summer’s day in Montreal, drivers were able to make the most out of the improved conditions as were the Canadian crowd, who were out in force despite student protesters threatening to block access to subway lines leading to the circuit as part of an ongoing fight against a raise in tuition fees.