Williams rookie Hulkenberg beats Red Bull to shock Interlagos pole

Williams rookie Nico Hulkeberg took an astonishing maiden pole position in Brazil this afternoon, having taken full advantage of changeable conditions at Interlagos to lap over a second quicker than the rest of the field in the crucial Q3 session. The German, currently without a seat for 2011, set the two quickest laps in Q3, improving to a 1m14.470s right at the end of the session with pole position already secured.

Rain had fallen from late last night in Sao Paulo and continued until mid morning. Despite the rain easing, conditions remained sodden as the qualifying hour got underway at 2pm, although the track was in good enough condition to allow for the use of intermediate tyres throughout Q1 and Q2. With a dry line beginning to emerge at the tail end of Q2 however, it was inevitable that slicks would be in use by the end of Q3, with Hulkenberg using the extra grip to perfection to give Williams their 126th pole position and their first in over five years.