F1 Italian Grand Prix: Hulkenberg springs surprise as Vettel claims pole

Sauber F1's Nico Hulkenberg delivered one of the biggest surprises of qualifying for the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza by claiming third on the grid with Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel taking his 40th career pole position.

Vettel looked untroubled in his run to pole position since setting the fastest lap in two of the three practice sessions as his form carried through to all three segments of qualifying too. The German was joined on the front row of the grid by teammate Mark Webber who is participating in an F1 race in Europe for the last time before switching to sports car racing in 2014.

The qualifying session featured more surprises aside from Hulkenberg going against Sauber's overall form for the season. Neither Mercedes AMG's Lewis Hamilton or Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean of Lotus F1 managed to make it past the second segment of qualifying.

Raikkonen, Hamilton and Grosjean will line up 11th, 12th and 13th on the starting grid, respectively.

Behind Hulkenberg's third placed Sauber F1, the top ten was rounded out by Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso, Mercedes AMG's Nico Rosberg, Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren's Sergio Perez and Jenson Button and Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso.

Frenchman Vergne provided one of the dramatic moments of qualifying as he lost control of his car at the Parabolica and streaked off into the gravel trap on the exit, just avoiding contact with the barrier and leaving behind a big cloud of dust that floated onto the track.

Hulkenberg, who is jokingly called 'The Hulk' last sprung a major surprise in qualifying at the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix when he took pole position for Williams F1 in a rain hit session.