Webber leads Red Bull 1-2

Red Bull continued their imperious qualifying form as Mark Webber led another one-two ahead of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.

Vettel takes second as Hamilton settles for third

Mark Webber has maintained Red Bull's 100 per cent record of pole positions for the season ahead of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix in Catalunya. It is also the third time in five races that the Milton Keynes-based marque have locked out the front row, with Sebastian Vettel taking second spot behind his team-mate. Webber's second pole of the season, and the third of his career, was timed at one minute 19.995 seconds - just more than one-tenth of a second ahead of Vettel. The duo were comfortably clear of the rest of the field, Lewis Hamilton nearly a second behind as he claimed third on the grid in his McLaren, with rival and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari behind him.

Fine

However, Ferrari were later fined US$20,000 (£13,500) after an incident at the start of the final session when Alonso was released from his pit into the path of Mercedes GP driver Nico Rosberg. Rosberg had to slam on his brakes and almost hit the pit wall in avoiding Alonso's car before telling his team over the radio: "Alonso should get a penalty for that." Alonso, who saw no need for any sanction, later told reporters: "I didn't see Nico unfortunately, the angle of vision is not perfect to see anyone coming from the pits so you rely on your mechanic." Reigning world champion Jenson Button had to settle for fifth, with Michael Schumacher maintaining the revival he started in Friday practice by taking sixth for Mercedes. Indeed, the German ensured he outqualified team-mate Rosberg for the first time this season, with the youngster ending in eighth spot behind Renault's Robert Kubica. Brazilian Felipe Massa was ninth in the second Ferrari and Japanese Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber snatched a creditable tenth thanks to a brave effort in Q2. However, history is now on Webber's side as the last nine winners of this race at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, and 12 of the last 13, have started from pole. "This pole was for the team, both sides of the garage have had about five hours sleep in the last two nights. They have really worked incredibly hard," said Webber. "It's a sensational qualifying for both Seb and myself."

Feet on the ground

Vettel added: "I think we are enjoying ourselves. Mark wants to beat me and I want to beat Mark. "Maybe I can find something for tomorrow...even if it might look comfortable from the lap times, I think we have to keep our feet on the ground." Towards the back of the grid, meanwhile, Renault's Russian Vitaly Petrov qualified 14th but collected a five place penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change. Both Virgin Racing cars were also demoted five places for a breach of the technical regulations having qualified 21st and 22nd. Indian Karun Chandhok, who qualified behind them in 23rd, goes right to the back after a gearbox change.

Times

1 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull 1min 19.995secs, 2 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull 1:20.101, 3 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) McLaren 1:20.829, 4 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Ferrari 1:20.937, 5 Jenson Button (Gbr) McLaren 1:20.991, 6 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Mercedes GP 1:21.294, 7 Robert Kubica (Pol) Renault 1:21.353, 8 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes GP 1:21.408, 9 Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 1:21.585, 10 Kamui Kobayashi (Jpn) BMW Sauber 1:21.984, 11 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India 1:21.985, 12 Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) BMW Sauber 1:22.026, 13 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Williams 1:22.131, 14 Vitaly Petrov (Rus) Renault 1:22.139, 15 Sebastien Buemi (Swi) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:22.191, 16 Jaime Alguersuari (Spa) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:22.207, 17 Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Force India 1:22.854, 18 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Williams 1:23.125, 19 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Lotus F1 1:24.674, 20 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Lotus F1 1:24.748, 21 Timo Glock Ger Virgin Racing 1:25.475, 22 Lucas di Grassi (Bra) Virgin Racing 1:25.556, 23 Karun Chandhok Ind HRT-F1 1:26.750, 24 Bruno Senna (Bra) HRT-F1 1:27.122
Note: Penalties have been given to Timo Glock (Infringement of rules), Lucas di Grassi (Infringement of rules) and Vitaly Petrov (Unscheduled gearbox change). Each driver will drop five places on the grid.