Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel takes fifth pole as Perez crashes – Monaco GP qualifiers, Formula 1
Sebastian Vettel has taken the pole position in the qualifiers for the 2011 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo.
The German defending champion did a fastest lap time of 1 minute and 13.556 seconds. Vettel took his fifth pole of the 2011 Formula 1 season and sixth for the Red Bull team.
His teammate Mark Webber, 2010 pole position and race winner, finished in third place with a fastest time of 1 minute and 14.019 seconds.
McLaren’s Jenson Button ended up in second place and was the only driver besides Vettel to post a time in the 1 minute 13 second barrier. Button’s teammate, Lewis Hamilton did not have a very good run in the Q3 as he only managed a seventh spot on the final
standings.
Hamilton’s run was halted by the delay which was caused by Sauber driver Sergio Perez. The Mexican driver crashed brutally on his way out of the tunnel and forced a red flag on the track. Perez severely hit the puddings on the tunnel’s exit and was rushed
to the nearest medical facility.
His crash caused a delay of almost thirty minutes on the track when only 2 minutes and 26 seconds were remaining on the clock.
Nevertheless, Ferrari duo of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa was able to post its flying laps before the crash and retained their position when the final two minutes of the session were completed.
Alonso finished fourth and Massa finished the session in sixth position. Separating the two Ferraris is Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher who also completed his flying lap before the crash of Perez.
Schumacher’s teammate, Nico Rosberg was the only driver who was able to complete a lap after the session resumed and ended up in eighth position.
Williams’ rookie Pastor Maldonado enjoyed his second Q3 of the 2011 season and ended the session in ninth place.
The race will be held on Sunday and it is still unsure whether Perez will take part in it or not.
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