Hamilton eases to pole ahead of Webber

Saturday 03rd November 2012, 14:13 by TF1T Staff 

© McLaren

Lewis Hamilton will start from pole position in Abu Dhabi on Sunday following a dominant performance on Saturday, leading McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh to describe the 27-year-old as "on fire," after he was quickest in all three qualifying sessions.

Mark Webber surprised to put his Red Bull on the front-row with a lap three-tenths slower than Hamilton.

Championship leader Sebastian Vettel starts third, though stopped his car on circuit as the final session came to an end prompting fears there may be an issue with his RB8.

An on form Pastor Maldonado put his Williams fourth, 11 places ahead of team-mate Bruno Senna.

Fernando Alonso's dreams of securing a third title look on the edge after the Spaniard could only manage seventh behind Kimi Raikkonen and Jenso Button in fifth and sixth.

Romain Grosjean starts tenth though is under investigation for an unsafe pit release.

Sergio Perez, who qualified 12th, could see his grid position increase after the stewards confirmed they were investigating him too, for blocking Bruno Senna during Q1.

Qualifying Results for the 2012 Abu Dhabi GP:

#Driver Team Q1Q2Q3
03 S. Vettel Red Bull 1:42.160 1:41.511 1:41.073
02 M. Webber Red Bull 1:41.933 1:41.277 1:40.978
06 J. Button McLaren 1:42.342 1:41.873 1:41.290
16 K. Kobayashi Sauber 1:43.582 1:42.606
10 R. Grosjean Lotus 1:42.046 1:41.620 1:41.778
12 S. Perez Sauber 1:42.624 1:42.084  
07 F. Alonso Ferrari 1:41.939 1:41.514 1:41.582
05 K. Räikkönen Lotus 1:42.222 1:41.532 1:41.260
01 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:41.497 1:40.901 1:40.630
11 N. Hulkenberg Force India 1:42.579 1:42.019  
09 F. Massa Ferrari 1:41.974 1:41.846 1:41.723
13 P. di Resta Force India 1:42.572 1:42.218  
14 M. Schumacher Mercedes 1:42.735 1:42.289  
04 P. Maldonado Williams 1:41.981 1:41.907 1:41.226
08 N. Rosberg Mercedes 1:41.926 1:41.698 1:41.603
17 D. Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1:43.280 1:42.765  
18 J. Vergne Toro Rosso 1:44.058
 
15 B. Senna Williams 1:43.298 1:42.330  
19 H. Kovalainen Caterham 1:44.956    
22 T. Glock Marussia 1:45.426    
23 P. de la Rosa HRT 1:45.766    
20 C. Pic Marussia 1:45.089    
21 V. Petrov Caterham 1:45.151    
24 N. Karthikeyan HRT 1:46.382    
Q1 107% Time: 1:48.601

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