Max Verstappen has secured the penultimate pole position of this Formula 1 season. The 22-year-old Dutchman, who had recently accused Ferrari cheating, referred in qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix (Sunday, 18.10 clock, TV: RTL and Sky, Liveticker SPIEGEL ONLINE) Sebastian Vettel to second place. For Verstappen it was the second pole of his Formula 1 career.
Vettel were missing in the Ferrari 0.123 seconds to the rivals in the Red Bull. The four-time world champion in Brazil denies the 100th Grand Prix for the Scuderia. "I'm happy to be in the front row," said Vettel; he is "cautiously optimistic" as far as his chances of victory are concerned.
Third was Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes just two weeks after his sixth title win. He drove a helmet specially painted for Brazil and in memory of race icon Ayrton Senna.
Vettel's team-mate Charles Leclerc finished fourth, but the Monegasse has to start ten places further back after changing the engine.