Malaysian Grand Prix 2013: Sebastian Vettel makes it back-to-back pole positions Red Bull's triple world champion had squeezed through the first session by only four-tenths of a second, but after he had switched to a second set of intermediate tyres during the final third Vettel again underlined his peerless composure under pressure. The German will be put under intense pressure on the grid by the Ferrari pair of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso, following their late surge to move second and third, while Lewis Hamilton will start fourth. While he had the opportunity of a maiden pole for Mercedes, standing top of the standings with just two minutes of qualifying left, Vettel ultimately eclipsed the competition with a beautifully judged lap of one minute 49.674 seconds. "It was a generally interesting qualifying," Vettel said, smiling at the rain disruption. We had a little bit of a different approach to other people. With the circuit drying, it was clear that it was better to change tyres. Given that qualifying had little bearing upon last weekend's race in Melbourne, which Lotus" Kimi Raikkonen won from seventh on the grid, the Malaysian Grand Prix is likely to be decided by another engrossing strategic battle. "Managing the tyres will be crucial," Vettel admitted. I just hope that we will get to the chequered flag in the same position. The pace of Ferrari looks ominous, and an interesting dynamic is already developing within the team as Felipe Massa out-qualified lead driver Fernando Alonso for the fourth consecutive race. Diplomatically, the Brazilian refused to be drawn on the rivalry, saying only: "I feel comfortable." Alonso was the first of the top three to cross the line, usurping Hamilton as the fastest man, before Vettel surpassed him by just over a second and then Massa split them with his final lap. Vettel's Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber was fifth, with Mercedes" Nico Rosberg completing the top six. Rain began falling midway through the second part of qualifying, and Force India's Paul di Resta was the driver to suffer most conspicuously. The Scot had been called in by his team to change tyres, but to do so he was forced to abort a faster lap, and by the time he was out on the track the shower had resumed.