Sebastian Vettel savoured a "very special" feeling after setting a new record for the number of pole positions during a season.
World champion insists there's no secret to going quickest on a Saturday
Sebastian Vettel savoured a "very special" feeling after setting a new record for the number of pole positions in a season during qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday.
The double world champion claimed his 15th pole of a dominant campaign ahead of Sunday's race in Sao Paulo to beat Nigel Mansell's 1992 haul.
For once, rather than making a last-gasp dash for the line, Vettel set the target for others to chase in the final qualifying session of the year at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace.
The 24-year-old produced a breathtaking second flying lap in the final session that saw him dip under 72 seconds with a lap of one minute 11.918secs.
None of his rivals could match the time, with Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber coming within 0.181secs.
McLaren pairing Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton occupy the second row in third and fourth respectively, but the latter was just over half a second adrift such was Vettel's lightning pace.
After equalling Mansell's feat in Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago, Vettel bluffed his way through questions in the build-up to this weekend when asked about potentially breaking it.
After finally doing so, albeit requiring 19 races to Mansell's 16, the beaming smile that has now become one of his trademarks was in evidence once again.
"There had been quite some talk before the qualifying about this particular record, and the best thing was just not to think about it at all," said Vettel.
"Yesterday we had a rough start to the weekend where we were not 100% happy with car, but in the end we made the right choices.
"So going into qualifying I was happier, I enjoyed the moment, I enjoyed the laps I had.
"I was happy with the first lap I had in Q3, but I knew there was more to come, and I put everything I had into the last lap.
"When I crossed the line I was very emotional because I knew that whatever happened I had given it all I had, so I was pleased with that.
"But I had to wait for quite a long time to see whether my time was good enough or not, with my engineer telling me where each of the drivers had finished as they crossed the line.
"When I was told I had pole the feeling was really special, and I would say different compared to the other poles I have had.
"Obviously it took the master of that discipline in Nigel Mansell a couple of races less, but it's still very special."
No secret
Asked what his secret is, with only Webber and Hamilton toppling him from pole on the other four occasions this season, Vettel said: "I don't know, there isn't one.
"It's not that easy to put everything into one lap, but most of the time I've been able to put everything into the final run in Q3.
"Once we go into qualifying I personally love the moment when you go out for your final run and you feel it's different to any other run.
"You are excited, nervous because that is the lap, and then the lap itself is like a rush and I really enjoy that."
Webber admitted that unfortunately he "couldn't look after Nige", referring to the Briton's record, but firmly believes he can break his victory duck for the season.
As for Button, for this weekend he is wearing the race suit he wore in Hungary - complete with a floral design on the back - where he took the chequered flag on the occasion of his 200th race.
"This is my flower power suit," said Button.
"It gives me a little extra push around the circuit, especially when it's wet. But there are good memories of Hungary, and she (the suit) is back."
With rain definitely forecast at some stage during the race, Button is hoping that will play into his hands and team-mate Hamilton.
Suggesting the Red Bulls have sacrificed speed for grip to cope with the wet, he said: "There's a good chance of rain, and I've seen these guys have a very slow end-of-straight speed.
"So I'm guessing they've a bit of downforce and a bit of something else that is going to help them tomorrow.
"We are where we are and just have to hope our car works pretty well in the wet. It has so far this year."
