Korean GP: Bridgestone qualifying report

Sebastian Vettel stormed to the first ever pole position for the Korean Grand Prix after setting a scintillating lap time of 1min 35.585secs with Bridgestone's soft compound Potenza tyre.

Vettel displaced his team-mate Mark Webber from pole by less than a tenth of a second at the Korean International Circuit in Yeongam. Sunday's race will see the eighth all Red Bull Racing front row this season with Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver Fernando Alonso and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton on the second row. Renault F1 Team driver Robert Kubica was fastest in the morning practice, also using the soft compound Bridgestone Potenza.

Q&A with Hirohide Hamashima - Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development

What was significant about today's running?
"Today we saw a very close and exciting battle for pole on an improving track surface which provided good entertainment for everyone. The surface evolution was very progressive today meaning that the tyre graining we have seen so far diminished, although it was still a factor."

What are the tyre strategy considerations for the race?
"The track surface condition is still not the same as we would generally see heading into a race and this is our first ever time here meaning that everyone will be very reactive to the developing situation. I am very interested to see how the track surface changes tomorrow afternoon. The top ten drivers start with their qualifying tyres, so the number of laps they completed today is a factor, especially as they will start with a full fuel load with the softer option tyre. Because of this we would expect relatively early stops from them. Given the circumstances we have seen so far this weekend, a two stop strategy is certainly worthy of consideration. If the rain that some predict does arrive then everything gets very interesting indeed as no-one knows what to expect."

-source: bridgedtone