Vettel takes pole position in Canada

McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton from Great Britain races during a first session in Montreal Friday for the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix. — AFP

MONTREAL — Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was perfectly placed to become the first repeat winner of the Formula One season after taking pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix for the second year running Saturday.

The double world champion's 32nd career pole, a tally that lifts him level with Britain's Nigel Mansell in the record books and one adrift of F1 greats Alain Prost and Jim Clark, also denied McLaren its 150th.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who took the first win of his Formula One career in Canada in 2007, was fastest in Friday practice but had to settle for the second front row slot when it really mattered.

Ferrari's championship leading Spaniard Fernando Alonso was third fastest and will line up alongside the second Red Bull of Australian Mark Webber, who will be looking to follow-up his win in Monaco with a victory in Canada.

Nico Rosberg was fifth for Mercedes and will be joined on the third row by Ferrari's Brazilian driver Felipe Massa. — Reuters