China Grand Prix:A stunning late lap from Sebastian Vettel secured Red Bull Racing their first ever pole position ahead of tomorrow's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. The German sat out most of the final two stages of qualifying due to concerns over the reliability of the car but nevertheless stormed to the top of the order with a time of one minute 36.184 seconds.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso also enjoyed an superb qualifying session for Renault to line up alongside Vettel on the front row, while Mark Webber completed a fine day for Red Bull by claiming third.
The result marks the first time this year that a car running without the controversial 'double-decker' diffuser has taken pole position.
"This morning we had a problem with the car," said Vettel. "The mechanics did a very good job and fixed the car. Basically it is all down to them.
"We have the best position for tomorrow but no points yet. There is a long way to go and we have to keep digging."
Brawn GP's Jenson Button will have to make his bid for a third successive victory from fifth on the grid after managing a time of 1:36.532secs while world champion Lewis Hamilton will start in ninth in his revamped McLaren.
Button was out-qualified for the first time this season by team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who secured fourth place, while Toyota's Jarno Trulli will start sixth.
Williams' Nico Rosberg, who has dominated the majority of the practice sessions so far this season, was seventh fastest while Kimi Raikkonen secured eighth in his Ferrari, which was running without KERS for the first time this season.
Rookie Sebastien Buemi of Toro Rosso progressed to Q3 for the first time this year and completed the top 10.
BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld will start 11th on the grid while McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen starts 12th.
There was disappointment once again for Ferrari's Felipe Massa who, like team-mate Raikkonen, was running without KERS but could not improve his performance and will start 13th.
Toyota's Timo Glock finished 14th in qualifying but will start on the back row after picking up a five-place penalty for a gearbox change.
Robert Kubica endured a torrid qualifying session as he was knocked out in Q1 after he could only qualify 18th.
The BMW driver experimented with KERS during practice but decided against using the system this weekend.
Following Wednesday's FIA decision that 'double-decker' diffusers are legal, McLaren and Renault were both running revised cars.
Just the two McLaren drivers and Heidfeld kept faith with KERS this weekend.
The Force Indias of Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil failed to progress from Q1 along with Renault's Nelson Piquet, Sebastien Bourdais of Toro Rosso and Kubica.
Button was quickest in Q1 with a time of 1:35.533 but was blown out of the water by Vettel in Q2, who shaved almost half a second off the Brit's effort.
Vettel did only one run but it was all he needed to climb from 15th to top of the timesheet and secure his place in the final stage.
It looked as though Webber was on course to secure pole as the final seconds ticked away in Q3 but he was first usurped by a stunning last lap by Vettel before Alonso's late charge.