Vettel upstaged returning legend Michael Schumacher when he grabbed pole ahead of four former world champions. But the German is well aware of the hard task that faces him,

"Tomorrow is going to be a long race, the first of 19, and it's not going to be a sprint. It will be an endurance event."

Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa, returning for his first race since his serious head injury last July, qualified second with new Spanish team mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso one place behind. Vettel was impressed by Massa's return,

"Big respect for what he has achieved," he said. "First race, he's back and bang, bang, bang. It's good to have him back."

Britain's world champion Jenson Button will start in eighth place. His McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton, starts fourth.