Qualification: Vettel, Alonso, Webber and the Renault engines on pole!

It’s only the third Grand Prix of the 2009 season, yet the standings order already seems quite shaken up. It’s the Red Bull team leading the discussions in Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix, the third round of the season. Vettel secures the Red Bull’s first pole position, ahead of Fernando Alonso’s Renault with its intermediate diffuser. Webber is third, ahead of the Brawn GP!

For the third qualifications of the year, the spectacle is still in full swing, and at this stage of the competition, each minor change on the car can affect performances by several positions. The Red Bulls seem to dominate the proceedings, and Alonso, equipped with a dual-way or ‘intermediate’ diffuser, makes a great comeback by squeezing between the two RB5s.

The Spaniard inherited a new R29 specification this morning during free practice 3 and was unable to properly test it due to an issue with the KERS. The KERS, kinetic energy recovery system, will actually be used very little during the race since only McLaren and Heidfeld (BMW) have reported it functioning.

Vettel seems to be running lighter on fuel than his teammate, both based on an aggressive race strategy for tomorrow at 8 am. We will know more in a few moments when the FIA reveals the weight of the cars.

Behind, the Brawn GP are 4th and 5th. Barrichello is ahead of the Englishman Jenson Button, who was leading during the first two parts of the qualifying sessions. The Toyota and Williams teams are still at the forefront. Trulli is 6th and leads Nico Rosberg. The lineup is gradually seeing the return of its former champions as Räikkönen and Hamilton have also made it into Q3. They are 8th and 9th respectively, ahead of an impressive performance by Sébastien Buemi. The Swiss driver was able to enter Q3 and takes the 10th fastest time this afternoon, while his teammate Sébastien Bourdais could not make it to Q2.

For this third and final part of Q3, the competition is very tough. Among the 10 possible spots, there are 8 different teams. In fact, only BMW and Force India have not managed to get one of their drivers into Q3.

Indeed, the BMW is less comfortable on the track and the balance leaves something to be desired. Heidfeld is 11th, nonetheless, and didn’t enter Q3 by just 10 thousandths. His teammate, Robert Kubica, is experiencing more issues with balance and grip. He is only 18th.

« I had support issues, especially at the rear, and during my fast lap I lost the rear of the car at turn 12. That’s how it is, now we need to focus on the race. » Comments the Pole.

Timo Glock in the second Toyota set the 14th fastest time in qualifying but will start from the back of the grid tomorrow for the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix. The German will have to change his gearbox and will lose 5 positions.

Massa and Kovalainen are therefore not in the top 10. This is also the case for Nelson Piquet Junior. The Brazilian from the Renault team made some mistakes and is not satisfied with his car… He is 17th behind Bourdais.

Force India brings up the rear once again, with Sutil ahead of Fisichella. The Indian cars, despite being equipped with Mercedes engines and tools, do not seem to find performance and are unable to take advantage of the significant changes in the regulations…

Results of the Qualifying – Chinese GP – Saturday, April 18, 2009: