• German Grand Prix - Qualifying

'I went above the limit' - Vettel

Sebastian Vettel took pole at his home race © Sutton Images

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• News:
• Vettel snatches dramatic pole in Germany
  

• Race:
• German Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Fernando Alonso
• |
• Sebastian Vettel

• Teams:
• Red Bull

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel admitted that he had to push beyond the limit to take pole position at the German Grand Prix.

Vettel edged Fernando Alonso to the top spot by just 0.002 seconds as Ferrari renewed its bid on the title at the Hockenheim with a return to form. Vettel had been wary of Alonso's pace after Friday practice and said he was relieved to snatch pole away from the Spaniard on home turf.

"It will be interesting to work out how much [distance] two thousandths of a second is," Vettel mused. "All session Fernando was very strong and Ferrari are generally very competitive. It was very exciting and in Q2 I knew we had one lap to get it right.

"It was close and you push a little bit more and you lose the edge of the tyres and then feel you are losing time. My last run wasn't 100 per cent perfect, I had a bit here or there where I went above the limit but in the end it was enough by nearly nothing to stay ahead and get on pole.

"I am extremely happy. It's my first time on pole at home but the main challenge will come tomorrow - we have a very strong car here and a tough fight against the red cars."

Two weeks ago at Silverstone, Vettel lost the lead at the start to team-mate Mark Webber and fell back down the field with a puncture. However, he is confident he can avoid a similar fate at the start on Sunday.

"I think unlike Silverstone the clean side [of the track] is worth a bit," he said. "Fernando and myself in the last race were surprised by the bad grip on the clean side. Here it should be good for us. We have a very strong car, it is very close to the Ferraris. Usually we have a decent pace in the race - it is a long race, everything is possible.

"We start from the best position after a good job today but tomorrow is the target. Today there is no real reward other than going to sleep with a good feeling."

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