Italy’s Jarno Trulli claimed pole position for Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix to lead a Toyota 1-2 on the front row at the Sakhir circuit.
Trulli clocked a time of one minute 33.431 seconds in the final qualifying session to edge out teammate Timo Glock. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, who won the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai last week and championship leader Jenson Button in his Brawn GP, will start from the second row. Defending world champion Lewis Hamilton was fifth fastest in his improving McLaren Mercedes ahead of Brazilian Rubens Barrichello in the second Brawn. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso of Renault and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa will share the fourth row. Nico Rosberg, who again failed to reproduce his earlier practice form in qualifying and Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari, rounded out the top 10. Vettel’s Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, who finished second to him in Shanghai, was held up by Force India’s Adrian Sutil in the first session and will start from 19th. Veteran Trulli, who was claiming the fourth pole of his career and first since the United States Grand Prix in 2005, was naturally delighted. “This is a great result for the team,” he said. “We have worked very hard for this, and I’m very happy. I feel very comfortable ahead of tomorrow’s race.” Germany’s Glock paid compliment to his teammate. “Jarno was just too good today,” he added. Vettel is banking on the Toyotas running light on fuel to give him a chance of a second straight victory. “We had no problems, and it was a smooth qualifying session, but in Q3 the two Toyotas were just a bit too quick. “But I think they will be coming in (for their first stop) a bit before me.” Britain’s Button won the first two races of the season before finishing third behind the Red Bulls in China.