September 14, 2008

GERMAN Sebastian Vettel became the youngest driver in Formula One history to claim pole position when he topped the times during a rain-battered qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix.

But world championship leader Lewis Hamilton had a nightmare afternoon, getting his tyre choice all wrong in his McLaren and will start in 15th place, nine spots behind title rival Felipe Massa in a Ferrari.

Hamilton's McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, of Finland, was second fastest and will share the front row with Vettel, who also delivered a first pole for his Toro Rosso team.

Australian Mark Webber was third fastest for Red Bull as the rain teemed down at Monza and Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais fourth in the second Toro Rosso, proof the team had judged the conditions perfectly.

Vettel, 21, was delighted with his performance.

“It is just fantastic that this has happened. I can't believe it myself. Before the session, I said that with all the rain I could go for the pole and I was only joking.

“I really did not expect it and it is amazing. This is a dream come true. It is such a great day for us and for the team,” said Vettel.

“We have made such huge progress in the last couple of years. But there was so much water out there and at the Ascari chicane it was just so difficult not to go off.”

“Now everyone will know there are two Italian teams in Formula One - one big one called Ferrari and us, we are also an Italian team, but a bit smaller!”

But Vettel refused to get carried away with his achievement, saying he needed more than rain to help him hang on to his place and grab his first win in Sunday's big race.

“Obviously, if it is raining it is better to be at the front in a wet race because you can see, you have the best view and then you have a chance.

“I don't want to talk like that because if we finish in the points it will be fantastic, and if we finish on the podium it would be incredible. Anything can happen, so I must keep my feet on the ground.”

Vettel bettered the record of two-time world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who grabbed his first pole at the 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix aged 21.

The young German made the most of heavy and incessant rain in Saturday's qualifying to seize the grid position on a day when championship-leading Briton Lewis Hamilton could only manage 15th in the drenched conditions.

Hamilton, who was controversially stripped of victory at last week's Belgian Grand Prix, admitted he had blundered over tyre choice.

“It was a joint decision to go out on wet-weather tyres at the start of Q2 - partly mine and partly my engineers',” said Hamilton.

“We thought it was the right way to go at the time because it was getting drier, but the grip level was poor so I came in and switched to extremes.

“By the time I got out, it had begun to rain and I just missed the window when the track was at its fastest.”

German Nico Rosberg was fifth fastest for Williams ahead of Brazilian Massa, who was sixth for Ferrari.

His team-mate, defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen of Finland, was down in 16th place behind Hamilton.

“It was such a very difficult qualifying session, for everyone,” said Massa, who is seeking his first points position finish in his sixth attempt at the Italian Grand Prix.

He has never previously finished better than eighth.

“But, overall, I am reasonably happy. I am ahead of my main rivals in the fight for the championship and, therefore, I still have a good grid position.”

Italian Jarno Trulli was seventh for Toyota ahead of two times champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Renault, German Timo Glock for Toyota and another German Nick Heidfeld for BMW Sauber.