Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Aug. 28: Formula One championship leader Mark Webber gave Red Bull their 12th pole position in 13 races this season at the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday. The Australian, favoured by a late flurry of rain that prevented rivals from matching his time in final qualifying, ended a run of four successive poles for German team mate Sebastian Vettel.
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton joined Webber on the front row, with Renault’s Robert Kubica third and Vettel fourth. The hopes of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso were scuppered by the fickle conditions and he will start 10th.
Webber, who celebrated his 34th birthday at the fast and flowing track on Friday, leads 2008 champion Hamilton by four points in the standings with seven races remaining, including Sunday’s. It was his fifth pole of the season, sixth of his career and first since Turkey in May.
Meanwhile, Adrian Sutil will start eighth at the grid while his Force India Formula One teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi will be at the 12th spot. Sutil, who clocked fastest time of 1:46.659 at the Q3 session, will be ahead of fellow German Nico Hulkenberg of Williams and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.