Greater Noida: None of the Sahara Force India drivers could make the top 10 on the grid for their home race during the qualifying session of the Indian Grand Prix 2012 at the Buddh International Circuit here on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Red Bull driver and defending champion Sebastian Vettel claimed his fifth pole position of the season, whose three consecutive wins have propelled him to the top of the table in the drivers' standings. Vettel's flying lap of 1:25.283 in Q3 secured him the pole, his 35th in the career and he will be joined on the front row by team-mate Mark Webber, who was just 0.34s behind. Lewis Hamilton (1:25.544) was third, followed by Jenson Button (1:25.659).
It's extremely good result for Vettel since his closest rival in the drivers' classification Fernando Alonso, who is just six points behind at 209, will start the race from fifth position behind the two McLaren cars.
Force India's Nico Hulkenberg will start 12th on the grid while Paul di Resta will be way behind in the 16th position, which is his worst qualifying result of the calendar so far. "We went into the session expecting to make Q3 so it is disappointing to miss out. The way first qualifying went, it was clear it was going to be a tough ask to make the top 10. My lap in Q2 was pretty good and that was the maximum we could have got out of the car," said Hulkenberg.
"I am happy to be on pole. It's best position to start from. There is a hard race tomorrow as everyone was competitive and tyres lasted quite well. It was special to win the first race in India and to win it for second time is the target for tomorrow," Vettel said.
India's Narain Karthikeyan, who drives for HRT and had finished 17th last year, qualified in the 23rd position behind Hispania team-mate Pedro De la Rosa.
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