Webber beats Red Bull teammate Vettel to take Spanish Grand Prix pole

Barcelona, May 21(ANI): Reigning Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel's run of five consecutive pole positions came to an end when his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber clocked the fastest time during qualifying for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.

Webber, winner of last year's race, clocked a time of one minute 20.981 at the Circuit de Catalunya, just 0.2 seconds faster than Vettel, the BBC reports.

Webber admitted that he did not feel challeneged by rival teams McLaren and Ferrari, but was delighted to have beaten the reigning champion.

"It was a good battle with Seb, I though we were going to be battling for pole so I just had to make sure I did a good lap and then pray that my time went above Seb's," Webber said.

Webber's seventh pole was his first since the Belgium Grand Prix in August last year.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton finished third ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and McLaren teammate Jenson Button.

German Nico Rosberg of Mercedes was sixth fastest followed by Brazilian Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari.

Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado managed eighth for Williams while seven times champion Michael Schumacher was ninth fastest in the second Mercedes.

Webber is already 38 points behind Vettel in the championship, so a win on a track at which he dominated in 2010 would be an important boost for his already dwindling title hopes. (ANI)