Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull has placed himself in a strong position for the European Grand Prix by winning pole position late in the final qualifying round in Valencia.
Vettel beat Fernando Alonso by almost half a second with his Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa third. Jenson Button for McLaren was in fifth with his team-mate Lewis Hamilton two places further back.
Alonso claimed it would take "a miracle" to snatch pole from Red Bull and his Ferrari team wrote on their Twitter page during final practice: "Red Bull are favourites, as usual."
Both McLarens ended final practice more than a second behind Vettel, leading to suggestions that they were running with more fuel on board, in particular Hamilton.
Red Bull's rivals are waiting to find out whether a new directive from the sport's governing body, the FIA, will also help narrow their superiority over one lap.