Hamilton takes first pole with Mercedes in China

Lewis Hamilton wears a big-day smile. The Briton has just taken the 27th pole position of his career in China, the first aboard a Mercedes. Just like last year, a Silver Arrow will start from first place in Shanghai. On a dusty track and with soft tires that deteriorate at breakneck speed, the 2008 world champion only had one test to achieve his performance. By completing his lap in 1:34:484, he set the best time of the weekend. He is 0??277 ahead of Kimi Räikkönen who has a new front row here. Fernando Alonso, faster this morning, is just behind at 0??304. The Spaniard qualified again ahead of Felipe Massa (5th), whom he had not beaten in this exercise for four Grand Prix. Nico Rosberg, the other Silver Arrow, is fourth.

At Red Bull on the other hand, we pout. Mark Webber suffered a fuel pressure problem during Q2; the Australian, visibly disappointed, will start from 14th position. Passed smoothly into Q3, Sebastian Vettel quickly understood that he did not have the means to fight for the top ranks. The three-time German mode champion then put on Medium tires, with which he will start tomorrow from 9th position. A bet also made by another world champion. Jenson Button (McLaren), will also start with this type of tire just ahead of the German.

Among the French, things are a little better for Romain Grosjean. After three complicated free practice sessions, the Lotus driver set an encouraging sixth time, even if he still conceded 0?500 to his Finnish teammate. Cold shower on the other hand for Jean-Eric Vergne. The pilot Toro Rosso, after qualifying on the wire for Q2, could not do better than 16th place while Daniel Ricciardo finished 7th after having achieved the feat of reaching Q3!

No miracle, however, for Jules Bianchi (19th) and Charles Pic (21st). If the two drivers fulfill their contracts by each finishing ahead of their teammates, their modest Marussia and Caterham did not allow them to claim better this Saturday.

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