Hamilton on pole in Korea

McLaren have finally beaten Red Bull to pole position thanks to an impressive lap from Lewis Hamilton in Korean GP qualifying.

Vettel misses out on his 13th pole of the season

McLaren have finally beaten Red Bull to pole position thanks to an impressive lap from Lewis Hamilton in Korean GP qualifying. Red Bull have dominated Saturday afternoons this entire season, claiming 15 pole positions in 15 race weekends, but Hamilton ensured that run came to an end with a superb drive. The McLaren driver clocked a 1:35.820 to take his first pole of the season and the 19th of his career. German world champion Sebastian Vettel had to settle for second place, missing out on his 13th pole position of the season by 0.222s. Hamilton's teammate Jenson Button was third, a further 0.084s off the pace, with Mark Webber in fourth ahead of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso. It was thoroughly deserved for Hamilton, who appears to have rediscovered his best form this weekend after finishing quickest in final practice earlier on Saturday and then in all three qualifying sessions. Vettel at least had the small satisfaction of denying McLaren their first all-front row for 41 races as the 24-year-old pipped Button into third by 0.084s. Mercedes' Nico Rosberg starts seventh, ahead of Renault's Vitaly Petrov, whilst Paul di Resta made it into the top 10 for the fourth time this year and will start ninth in his Force India. The Scot at least went out in the final session, albeit not setting a time, unlike team-mate Adrian Sutil who opted not to leave his garage and so will line up 10th. Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari led those who dropped out of Q2, the Spaniard beaten by 0.061s by Di Resta who produced a stunning last lap to make the top 10.

Schumi 12th

Michael Schumacher finished half a second behind team-mate Rosberg and will start 12th, with Sebastien Buemi in his Toro Rosso 13th. The Saubers of Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez line up 14th and 17th, sandwiching Renault's Bruno Senna - 0.6s down on Petrov - and Williams' Pastor Maldonado. For only the second time this season, and first since the Spanish Grand Prix in May, Rubens Barrichello failed to make it out of the initial 20-minute Q1. Worse for veteran Barrichello, desperate for one more season with Williams next year, it was team-mate Maldonado who dropped the Brazilian into 18th place by a tenth of a second. Lotus duo Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli occupy the 10th row of the grid, followed by Virgin pair Timo Glock and Jerome D'Ambrosio on the 11th. Vitantonio Liuzzi and Daniel Ricciardo bring up the rear, with the latter failing to set a time due to a technical issue, and is now in the hands of the stewards as to whether he will be allowed to race. Times
01. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m35.820
02. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m36.042 + 0.222
03. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m36.126 + 0.306
04. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m36.468 + 0.648
05. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m36.831 + 1.011
06. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m36.980 + 1.160
07. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m37.754 + 1.934
08. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m38.124 + 2.304
09. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes no time
10. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes no time
11. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m38.315 + 1.789
12. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m38.354 + 1.828
13. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m38.508 + 1.982
14. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m38.775 + 2.249
15. Bruno Senna Renault 1m38.791 + 2.265
16. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 1m39.189 + 2.663
17. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m39.443 + 2.917
18. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m39.538 + 2.013
19. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 1m40.522 + 2.997
20. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 1m41.101 + 3.576
21. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m42.091 + 4.566
22. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m43.483 + 5.958
23. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 1m43.758 + 6.233
24. Daniel Ricciardo HRT-Cosworth no time