• Korean Grand Prix - qualifying

Vettel pleased to push McLaren

Sebastian Vettel edged out Jenson Button for second by just 0.084s © Sutton Images

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• Report:
• Hamilton secures McLaren's first pole of 2011
  

• Race:
• Korean Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Sebastian Vettel

• Teams:
• Red Bull

Sebastian Vettel said that Red Bull "did a very good job" to push McLaren so close in qualifying for the Korean Grand Prix.

Red Bull was beaten to pole position for the first time this season as Lewis Hamilton took pole in Yeongam, with Vettel having to settle for second with Jenson Button close behind. Vettel ended up 0.2s slower than Hamilton and said that the team had exceeded its own expectations to get in amongst the McLaren pair.

"To be honest I think McLaren looked very competitive yesterday," Vettel said. "I know the conditions were completely different but you could see that they were a fair chunk ahead of everyone else, including us as well this morning, in the dry, so they looked extremely quick. But I think that once again we pushed them very hard in qualifying, and got very close, I think closer than probably they expected and closer than we expected in some regards. So I think we did a very good job in qualifying."

Vettel also said that Red Bull were set fair for the race having only used supersoft tyres during qualifying to save the more durable soft compound, with him expecting Button to be strong in reacting to the expected tyre wear.

"Also we saved all of our prime tyres which I think will be crucial for tomorrow. Obviously we had only a rough idea this morning with a little bit more fuel in the car, so I think we're in a good position. It's not a long way down to the first corner and then turn three is a little bit exposed so we'll see. It's a long race, a lot of things that can be happen. I think tyre wear will be crucial; Jenson did a very good job in the last race in particular, so I think that again will be very important tomorrow."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.