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28 March 2024

Vettel steals pole at European Grand Prix

(L to R) McLaren Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull Racing's German driver Sebastian Vettel celebrate in the parc ferme at the Valencia Street Circuit in Valencia after the qualifying race of the European Formula One Grand Prix. (AFP)

Published
By AP

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel will start from pole position at the European Grand Prix for the third straight year.

The two-time defending Formula One champion, who has won the race the past two seasons, clocked the fastest lap of 1 minute, 38.086 seconds on Valencia's 5.4-kilometer (3.3-mile) street circuit.

Lewis Hamilton of McLaren is also on the front row for Sunday's race, while Pastor Maldonado of Williams will start third.

Ferrari pair Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher of Mercedes failed to reach the third qualifying session. Schumacher, a seven-time F1 champion, will start between the pair in 12th place.

Vettel's teammate, Mark Webber, was eliminated after the first period because of mechanical trouble. He will start 19th.