New kid Seb is real pole star

Sep 14 2008 By Bill Mcintyre

Sportsfile

SEBASTIAN VETTEL raced into the Formula One history books yesterday when he became the youngest man to claim pole position for a Grand Prix.

The German, aged just 21 years and 73 days, beat Fernando Alonso's record by 165 days after the Spaniard topped the grid in Malaysia in 2003.

Vettel could hardly contain his delight and was heard celebrating wildly over his Torro Rosso team radio when race chiefs confirmed his pole for today's Italian Grand Prix.

The rain-lashed Monza circuit proved no problem for Vettel who mastered the wet conditions better than anyone.

Behind him, title contenders Felipe Massa, Robert Kubica, Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton will start sixth, 11th, 14th and 15th respectively as the sodden conditions played havoc with the field.

A jubilant Vettel said: "Unbelievable! Incredible!

"When I was young it was my dream to drive in Formula One, with my target to fight for pole positions and race wins.

"But today I didn't expect this, it's so fantastic.

"Before the race I joked with my engineers and said if it's wet we have to go for pole.

"But the conditions were so difficult. There was so much water, you never knew just what to expect. It was very tricky.

"At times it was so difficult you couldn't see anything and there were times when you were lucky not to lose the car because of aqua-planing.

"I wouldn't say I'm a master in the wet but this was a superb result. It's a great day for me and the whole team."

Vettel has only been in F1 for just over a year but has already earned a move to sister team Red Bull Racing for next season.

And he is delighted to sign off with pole to repay the hard work of everyone at Torro Rosso.

Vettel said: "You can't forget that just a couple of years we were the Minardi team.

"We've made huge progress since with the package from Red Bull making our lives easier.

"But we're also doing a good job. There is no secret to our success, only hard work.

"I've been part of the team for a year and, if you saw the guys then to now, the atmosphere is great, everybody is motivated.

"All the guys know when they walk into the paddock they're here to do a job."

Vettel is eyeing a dream win at Monza but admitted the race is probably beyond him.

He said: "Obviously we're in the best position but we can't expect to win."