Singapore - McLaren-Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix from pole position after Saturday's final qualifying session was cut short after Rubens Barrichello crashed toward the end. Hamilton, who also started from pole in the last race in Monza two weeks ago, posted a time of 1 minute 47.891 seconds on the 5.073 kilometre-long Marina Bay circuit through the streets of Singapore.
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel will start Sunday's night race in second place after posting a time of 1:48.204, though he will feel disappointed as he had posted the fastest sector times and seemed on course for pole when the session was halted.
The third place on the grid belongs to German Williams driver Nico Rosberg, who will start alongside the second Red Bull of Mark Webber. Rosberg posted the fastest lap of the evening to top the second session of qualifying.
Hamilton said that going into the session they did not know what to expect. "We came with updates to our car, but we did not know where we could go, even though we had a very positive approach.
"My first lap was very relaxed and the car just got better and better. I did not get to start my second lap, but I think I could have done a fast time."
Hamilton said that organizers had tried to improve the track from last year. "It is still very bumpy though, but if it is too smooth it will make it too easy."
Vettel said it was sad that the red flag had come out. "I don't know what could have been. The first run was very important, but for the second my tyres were better, so I am sure I would have had a faster time.
"It will be a very long race and it is tough. I like this circuit and it is great fun to race here because you really have to push hard."
The third row on the grid is occupied by Fernando Alonso in a Renault and Toyota's Timo Glock, while BMW-Sauber's Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica are on the fourth row.
The final two drivers in the top 10 are McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen and Brawn GP driver Barrichello, who posted the fifth- fastest time, but will start from 10th after incurring a five-place penalty for a gearbox change.
Championship leader Jenson Button was eliminated in the second round of the qualifying and will start in 12th place on the sixth row of the grid, two places behind his teammate Barrichello.
There was disappointment for the Force India team as they failed to repeat their success from the last two races. Adrian Sutil, who finished fourth in the Italian Grand Prix two weeks ago, managed only the 16th-fastest time, while his teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi finished last.
Ferrari's Giancarlo Fisichella also failed to advance past the first round of qualifying and will start from the ninth row on the grid after posting the 18th-fastest time.
Button leads the standings with four races to go with 80 points from Barrichello, who is on 66. The Red Bull duo of Vettel and Webber are third and fourth respectively with 54 and 51.5 points.
