MONZA, ITALY (AP) - Championship leader Sebastian Vettel will start the Italian Grand Prix from the pole position after posting the fastest time in qualifying Saturday, while Lewis Hamilton’s bid for a fifth straight pole ended in disappointment.
Vettel has won the Italian GP twice and will be hard to stop after securing his 40th career pole. The three-time defending Formula One champion will share the front row with teammate Mark Webber.
Fernando Alonso needed a strong performance but finished fifth behind Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, who was a surprising third.
Hamilton placed 12th in his Mercedes for his worst performance since last year’s Spanish GP, while Kimi Raikkonen also recorded his poorest qualifying run of the campaign in 11th.
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