Vettel heads Red Bull front row at Silverstone

However, there are eighth tenths between Vettel and third-placed Fernando Alonso, who shares Row 2 with rival Lewis Hamilton. Reigning Champion Jenson Button struggled and could manage no more than fourteenth.

Conditions remained ideal for Formula 1 cars on Saturday afternoon as a capacity crowd made the most of Silverstone's improved grandstands and viewing areas. With the 20-minute Q1 beginning at 1pm local time, it was Timo Glock's Virgin which was first to leave the pits following problems with his throttle in final practice this morning.

Drivers were all be cautioned over crosswinds, which blew several runners out wide at Copse earlier today, with the speed now up to 4.9 metres per second. With a 1:30.841 Q1 lap time, Vettel's was the quickest of the weekend so far as Felipe Massa's Ferrari improved to seventh despite a close call with a slower HRT car at Luffield, which resulted in the Brazilian's left hand being raised from the cockpit.

Jaime Alguersuari pushed hard on his final lap for Toro Rosso although the Faenza team made the mistake of bringing their car in before the final minute, allowing for an annoying demotion from Vitantonio Liuzzi and Force India, who struggled for top speeds yesterday. At the back, Kovalainen leads the new teams as Sakon Yamamoto qualifies 24th whilst replacing Bruno Senna at Hispania.

Fernando Alonso was first out in Q2 as he and Ferrari team-mate Massa aimed to make the most of a clear track at the start of the 15-minute period. However, all focus was on Button as the local favourite started his final hot lap in 14th position. Complaining of an 'undriveable' car, the World Champion was highly disappointed to not improve at home and will start tomorrow's race from the back half of Row 7, with returning Race Engineer Jakob Andreason having been heard saying 'Sorry' via team radio.

Having been rapid in practice, Renault's Vitaly Petrov was also annoyed to miss the cut after coasting back into the pit lane with his engine off with just six minutes to go. Despite setting personal best second and third sector times on his last run, the Russian was able to move ahead of only Sébastien Buemi's Toro Rosso to 17th. Nico Rosberg saved his bacon, though, by progressing to sixth at the last moment after being set to drop out.

Heading into Q3, after Kamui Kobayashi's 12th placed Sauber halted in the middle of the pit entrance, Rubens Barrichello and Williams demonstrated strong pace again by starting eighth on the grid following a collection of 12 points last time out in Valencia. Pedro de la Rosa was delighted to start on Row 9 after also being in the top ten in Q1, as Michael Schumacher failed to move ahead of the Sauber on his final lap.

Leading the timesheets with five minutes remaining, Vettel improved his lap time by six hundredths of a second as the clocks stopped, taking pole position with 1:29.615 as Red Bull were the only team break the 90-second barrier.

With Alonso's worst Saturday fears confirmed regarding Red Bull, after lifting in the Ferrari at Luffield, Hamilton is the leading Briton in fourth ahead of Rosberg and the Renault of Kubica. The second Ferrari of Massa joins compatriot Barrichello on the fourth row.

Source: f1racing.net