POLE POSITION IS Lewis Hamilton’s for the first time this season following qualifying at the Korean Grand Prix.

It has been a difficult couple of months for the former world champion and while he would have been justified to have shared a smile with his supporters after a superb final effort, it was a noticeably quiet Hamilton that faced the media afterwards.

Asked was he ‘okay’, he replied: “No, I am happy.

“Happy to be here and very proud of what the team have been available to achieve over the course of the last few races and for Jenson (Button) to have won the last race and for us to be on the front two rows again and the only ones competing with Red Bull I am very, very happy about it.

“But tomorrow (Sunday) is the day that really counts.”

Hamilton was the man to beat throughout Saturday’s action and eventually finished over two tenths faster than double world champion Sebastian Vettel, who will start second.

Jenson Button, the winner last time out in Japan, will start third and Red Bull’s Mark Webber fourth. The Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso were fifth and sixth.

Full grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix >>>>

Vettel was investigated for cutting a corner during the session – but escaped any penalty – and wasn’t giving up hope of winning yet another race when he spoke to reporters.

“Once again, we pushed them very, very hard in qualifying and got very, very close. I think closer than they expected and closer than we expected in some regards, so I think we did a very good job in qualifying.

“Also, we saved all our prime tyres, which I think will be crucial for (the race). We had only a rough idea this morning with a little bit more fuel in the car. I think we are in a good position.”

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