Chinese Grand Prix 2018: WATCH Sebastian Vettel storm to pole in Shanghai qualifying
THIS is Sebastian Vettel’s stunning qualifying lap in Shanghai which bagged him pole for the second week running for tomorrow’s Chinese Grand Prix.
Championship leader Vettel stormed to pole after snatching it late from team-mate Kimi Raikkonen as Ferrari dominated qualifying once again.
The German put in the impressive lap in one minute, 31.095 seconds – a track record – to pip his team-mate by 0.087 seconds
Mercedes man Lewis Hamilton qualified fourth, ending the session with a time even slower than third-placed team-mate Valtteri Bottas after aborting his final flying lap on a chilly afternoon.
Saturday's pole was Vettel's second in three races this season and his 52nd career pole.
Sebastian Vettel stormed to pole for the Chinese Grand Prix
It was Ferrari's first in Shanghai since Brazilian Rubens Barrichello started the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix from the front in 2004.
"Thank you guys, great qualifying, great car," said Vettel, who also started from pole in Bahrain last weekend, over the team radio. "Really enjoyed that one."
Raikkonen locked out the front row for Ferrari for the second time in succession.
The Finn had led the timesheets as the drivers embarked on their final flying laps and appeared set to clinch pole position after going fastest in the opening two sectors.
Vettel made it back-to-back poles
Mercedes struggled to keep up with Ferrari
Vettel, who put in an error-strewn first attempt, then pulled out just enough through the final corners to deny the 38-year-old what would have been his first pole since last year's Monaco Grand Prix.
"It was okay but not good enough," said Raikkonen after the session.
"It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but we'll go tomorrow and see what we can do."