Sebastian Vettel posted his 43rd career pole position., which places him securely behind just Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna in the all-time F1 standings.

Vettel set himself up for a third victory in India and a sixth consecutive 2013 success by clocking the fastest-ever lap around the Buddh International Circuit in India on Saturday afternoon. The Red Bull driver, who can clinch a fourth world title by finishing fifth or higher in Sunday’s race, clocked a lap of 1:24.119 on the soft tire – 0.7s quicker than Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg, who qualified in second ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Mark Webber was fourth fastest in the other Red Bull, but could prove to be Vettel’s biggest challenger in the race after opting for a different strategy to his teammate and qualifying on the much more durable medium-compound tire.