2013 Italian Grand Prix: Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel claims pole, Raikkonen and Hamilton out of top 10

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel won the pole for the Italian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel, clocking a 1:23:755, claimed pole position for the Italian Grand Prix with his Red Bull team mate Mark Webber in second position, having recorded a 1:23.990.

The two Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso finished at fourth and fifth position respectively. Nico Hulkenburg, in his Sauber, surprised everyone with a 3rd place.

A dejected Lewis Hamilton, who will start 12th, said: “I just drove like an idiot. That’s the worst I’ve driven for a long, long time. I’m sorry to the team.”

When asked if Adrian Sutil hindered him, Hamilton replied: “Yep, but there’s nothing you can do about it. I should have done a lap before that. I just didn’t drive well. There’s not really much more to say. I was quick in Q1 and then I dunno. I’ll do whatever I can from where I am but it’s going to be tough.”

Qualifying 2

Vettel finished Q2 as the fastest with Alonso and Webber at second and third position at the end of the second qualifying session.

To everyone’s disbelief, Lewis Hamilton, who was on pole for all the previous four races, got booted out. As if that was not enough, Kimi Raikkonen was also knocked out.

Joining those two were Pastor Maldonado, Romain Grosjean and the two Force India drivers Adrian Sutil and Paul Di Resta.

Qualifying 1

Mercedes‘ Nico Rosberg was the first man out on track, followed by Esteban Gutierrez, who set the early pace with a 1:26.293, 1.3 seconds clear of Rosberg, and then the two Ferraris.

Sebastian Vettel finished the fastest while the six drivers who were eliminated at the end of Q1 session included Giedo van der Garde, Valtteri Bottas, Esteban Gutierrez, Jules Bianchi, Max Chilton and Charles Pic.

It looked closer than any other qualifying session this season with only seven tenths separating Sebastian Vettel at first and Paul Di Resta at 15th.