Abu Dhabi – Lewis Hamilton dominated qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Saturday as he cruised to pole position for McLaren.
The 27-year-old Englishman was simply untouchable as he steered his car to the fastest time in all three parts of the session, finishing with an outstanding best time of one minute and 40.630 seconds.
This was good enough to lift him three-tenths of a second above his nearest challenger, Mark Webber of Red Bull, who will share the front row with him for Sunday's 55-laps race at the 5.554 kms Yas Marina Circuit.
Defending champion and series leader Sebastian Vettel was third in the second Red Bull ahead of Pastor Maldonado of Williams, Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus and Jenson Button in the second McLaren.
Vettel's main title rival, Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, struggled to qualify seventh in a frustrating session ahead of Nico Rosberg of Mercedes, Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari and Romain Grosjean of Lotus.
Hamilton's pole was his sixth this year and the 25th of his career on a circuit that he clearly responds to with great elan - and gives him a perfect opportunity to upset the Red Bull express and end Vettel's run of four consecutive wins. – AFP