Vettel on pole for United States Grand Prix

AUSTIN, Texas (AFP) –

Germany’s Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull racing drives out of the pits during the third practice session for the United States Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Vettel will start on pole for the United States Grand Prix after the Red Bull driver finished quickest in qualifying here on Saturday.

Sebastian Vettel will start on pole for the United States Grand Prix after the Red Bull driver finished quickest in qualifying here on Saturday.

Vettel, who can wrap up his third consecutive Formula One title on Sunday, is joined on the front row by Lewis Hamilton on the Briton’s penultimate start for McLaren.

Hamilton missed out on depriving Vettel, who will be competing in his 100th Grand Prix, of pole by a mere tenth of a second.

Vettel, who at 25 is aiming to become the youngest ever triple champion, can accomplish that feat if he outscores his nearest rival in the drivers’ standings, Fernando Alonso by 15 points.

Alonso will have his work cut out to keep the title battle going to the season-decider in Brazil as he will set off from the fourth row of the grid.

The Ferrari driver came in ninth in qualifying, but will move up to eighth as Lotus driver Romain Grosjean, who posted the fourth quickest time, has been penalised five grid places after changing a gearbox.