Vettel takes Chinese pole, Alonso second

F1 Grand Prix, GP China, Shanghai International Ciruit

Sebastian Vettel has broken the Button string of pole positions by putting in a masterful lap. Fernando Alonso with his new diffuser is second, ahead of Webber and only in 4th place the first Brawn of Barrichello. Jenson Button is 5th but may have been carrying slightly more fuel.

The Chinese qualifying is the first real test for the team's interim diffuser solutions. Many have fitted quick-fixes to try to close the gap with the front runners, although more elaborate and efficient updates are yet to be developed fully.

The first session is kicked off by Giancarlo Fisichella. Both Williams drivers follow quickly to improve the times with many others behind them.

Most drivers are using the super-soft tyre for qualifying, while those that don't are nowhere near the fastest times. Button's first run on the medium compound puts him in 6th place. Lewis Hamilton meanwhile is third after the first runs, an impressive showing from a clearly improved McLaren. Heikki Kovalainen is a bit slower in 8th but doesn't have the stacked front wing yet.

The second run just ahead of the session's closure bring up the Brawns back on top. Webber is 3rd, followed by Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Massa, Buemi and the Toyota's. Slowest and knocked out are Bourdais, Piquet, Kubica, Sutil and Fisichella.

In the beginning of Q2, Rosberg is again out early. The Ferrari's also appear in better shape than earlier, although Raikkonen did appear to have a gearbox problem in his out-lap. He slowed suddenly but picked up the pace again soon afterwards.

At the end of Q2, the gaps are very small, but the Red Bulls are fastest, led by Vettel. Both Brawns follow up with then Trulli, Hamilton, Alonso, Rosberg and Raikkonen. Out of qualifying are now Heidfeld, Kovalainen, Massa, Glock and Nakajima.

Q3 kicks off, and again Rosberg is the first on top of the timesheet. With 6 minutes to go it is then Alonso, ahead of Trulli who put in quick times. Webber however is one minute later more than half a second faster, and even Button cannot improve. Barrichello on the other hand does and is provisionally in pole.

3 minutes to go and Hamilton, Vettel and Buemi have not yet set a time. 2 minutes later Rosberg is the first to time a final lap, a 1:37.403 and good for 4th place at this time. Note that all front runners are on the super softs and that Hamilton is taking two attempts out of his tyre set.

During the final exciting minutes of the Chinese qualifying session, Jenson Button is unable to improve his time and to take his third consecutive pole position. That honour is for the 21-year-old Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel. Fernando Alonso, with the interim version of his team's diffuser, will start tomorrow's race from the front row as well as he set the second time, followed by Vettel's team mate Mark Webber.

It is quite interesting to see that number 1 and 3 from today's qualifying session, who have been competitive during the two first races of the season as well, are not running double-decker diffusers. This means that Adrian Newey, once again, has designed a possible-Championship winning car.