Lewis Hamilton's wide-eyed surprise after qualifying for tomorrow's European Grand Prix told its own story as he has a genuine shot of a third consecutive victory for the first time in his Formula One career.

All the talk in the build-up to this race had centred on Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault improving their cars, and in today's final practice around the Valencia circuit McLaren were trailing.

Jenson Button remarked afterwards qualifying would prove to be a challenge, that he and Hamilton could struggle to make the top 10.

But ahead of tomorrow's race, championship leader Hamilton starts third and reigning champion Button seventh behind another all-Red Bull front row, the team's fourth of the season.

On this occasion Sebastian Vettel had the edge over team-mate Mark Webber, with the duo separated by just 0.075seconds after 5.419km.

It is the 22-year-old German's fourth pole of the year, although he has yet to win from his previous three, ninth of his career and the team's eighth in nine grands prix this season.

But they have a dangerous Hamilton directly behind them, a man who has won the last two grands prix in Turkey and Canada and who is desperate to win this race after finishing second in each of the two races here.

"I tell you what I'm really happy to be here. I feel so fortunate," said Hamilton as he sat alongside Vettel and Webber in the post- qualifying press conference.

"We knew a few people would be bringing updates, and we saw from practice we were quite a long way behind.

"When I locked up the rears in turn 12 on my last hot lap I thought 'Jeez, I'm going to be a long way behind,' but I came out third, so I'm really happy.

"Anything is now possible from there, but we're going to be pushing as hard as we can to win it.

"This track has generally been quite good to me in the past, and I'm hoping it will continue that way."

It appeared to be a case of damage limitation for McLaren ahead of them bringing their version of the blown diffuser for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in a fortnight.

The device, that aids aerodynamics, provides downforce and with it performance, is what has propelled Vettel and Webber to the front this season, with Ferrari, Renault and Mercedes all running their concepts for the first time this weekend.

"We did think it would be damage limitation, but I guess not really considering we're third," added Hamilton.

"Going into qualifying the thought was we had to get absolutely every ounce out of the car, every little bit possible just to gain that extra spot, even if it meant being seventh to sixth.

"But I certainly didn't think we would be this high up."

Potentially neither did the Red Bulls after emerging from the last race in Canada a considerable distance behind a second McLaren one- two, and with this track not expected to favour them either.

But for the first time in qualifying with the f-duct on the car, a device McLaren have used to great effect this season which again aids aerodynamics, downforce and performance, it was a return to Red Bull's dominating ways in qualifying.

"As in Canada, the track here shouldn't be our strongest, so people were saying, but we've proved them wrong," said Vettel.

"So it's good we've been able to put the car on pole and our pace is looking very good. It couldn't be much better.

"We know we face a tough battle, but we can win the race and score a lot of points for the team."

After beating Vettel in the last four grands prix, Webber had to settle for second best on this occasion.

"I could have gone one place better, but I'm not going to roll out a list of excuses - I just wasn't good enough," said Webber.

"It would be nice if it was the other way around, but you can't do it all the time, so I'm very happy to be on the front row. It's a credit to the team."

The Ferraris of home hero Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa start fourth and fifth, followed by Renault's Robert Kubica and Button.

These, though, are dark days for Mercedes who for the first time this season failed to get a car into Q3, with Nico Rosberg 12th and the fading Michael Schumacher 15th.

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