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Sebastian Vettel admits he would not have pipped Lewis Hamilton to pole in Malaysia had it not been for his Red Bull's KERS 
The reigning World Champion's title defence got off to the best start possible in Australia where he claimed pole position and the race victory.
However, he had to achieve both without the added KERS power-boost as Red Bull ran into a few issues with their unit.
But, after using the unit in Friday's practice at Sepang, the team opted to continue with it on Saturday where Vettel narrowly beat Hamilton to pole position by 0.104s.
And the German concedes that would not have been possible without KERS.
"I would say so, definitely it was quite a challenging weekend until qualifying," said Vettel.
"I was happy with the car but we never got into a rhythm so yesterday was not as smooth as we hoped for and also this morning we knew we had it in the car, the main thing was believing in it.
"We got criticism last time for not running it (KERS) and we came here and solved most of our problems and I think if we would not have it today then we would not be here, both of us, so it is a great achievement, compliments to those guys. We are pleased."
Qualifying, though, was the first time this weekend that Vettel had topped a session, admitting that it had not been the "smooth" build-up he would have wanted.
"It was not a particular problem with the car, nothing broke down. It was not smooth, we did not have the laps we wanted. A little bit of traffic, I did mistakes, so it did not come together as nicely. Now we focus on tomorrow."
Meanwhile, team boss Christian Horner confirmed that both his drivers had used KERS in qualifying, although Mark Webber had an issue with his unit.
"In all honesty, no I didn't expect it. An absolutely fantastic lap from Seb," he told the BBC.
"The McLarens have been quick all weekend. Mark had a little KERS alarm that we're looking at, but I don't think it was anything significant."
Webber qualified in third place for the Malaysian GP, 0.309s behind his team-mate.
Source: Planet-F1
Sebastian Vettel has revealed that he is yet to think up a name for his new formula one car.
Last year, the 23-year-old won his first title at the wheel of Randy Mandy, after the original RB6 named Luscious Liz was replaced due to damage after Monaco.
The giving of an amorous female name has become one of the Red Bull driver’s several F1-related superstitions, including the sliding of a lucky coin behind his boot laces.
When asked about his new RB7 wearing the coveted number 1 as it was launched at Valencia on Tuesday, Vettel told Welt newspaper: “The number looks good. I saw the car in one piece for the first time this morning. So I haven’t got a name for her yet,” he revealed.
Vettel was also asked about reports that his friend Michael Schumacher suffers from motion sickness at the wheel of driver simulators.
As for whether he has also been sick in a sim, he smiled: “Once, but only very briefly. I think it’s an important tool with testing so limited, especially with regards to (learning) the tracks.”
Source: YallaF1
It's a reinvigorated world champion who begins the 2011 defence of his title. The 19 races of last season would have taken their toll on anyone, but Sebastian is fit and ready for the fight
“At the end of last year I felt tired and needed a rest,” he said. “But I’ve had that rest now and I’m really looking forward to it again.”
And looking forward is a reminder that everyone, every driver, every team starts from the same position in March. “2010 is behind us. It’s a very proud memory, but now it’s 2011 and there’s another job to do, so we move to the next challenge, which is trying to do the same again.”
The same again, but with a different set of regulations and set of wheels under him.
The unveiling of the RB7 this morning is also the unveiling of new technologies and tyres for our German driver. Ho does he feel about the changes to car and rule book?
'2010 is behind us. It’s a very proud memory, but now it’s 2011 and there’s another job to do'
“KERS we know about already, we have seen the effect on the track in 2009, but the moveable rear wing is a bit of an unknown. No one has ever driven the car with that type of wing and it’s difficult to know how it will work: will overtaking be just about possible, which I think is the idea, or will overtaking become very easy and therefore artificial, which is what no one wants to happen.
“With KERS, the question is how good and how efficient your system is. Not just in terms of performance but in how quickly it recharges the batteries under braking and how much it upsets your car when you do apply it. Obviously, the teams that had it in 2009 have a little bit of an advantage, but we will just have to work hard on that.
“In the end, though, it is just one variable and there are always variables. We have different tyres to work with this season and we have to see how we deal with that. You just have to adapt and try to make your driving style suit the car. It happens every year and we will deal with it. It’s good, it definitely keeps you on your toes.”
Seb is our driver for the first two days here in Spain, before Mark takes over behind the wheel.
Source: Red Bull
Red Bull RB7 launch launch today!
Red Bull on Tuesday revealed its new car for the 2011 season featuring the number 1 for reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel.
Photographs of the RB7, which is an evolution of the dominant title-winning car of 2010, were published on the team’s official website shortly before a blue sheet was pulled off in the Valencia pitlane by Vettel - who will drive the car on Tuesday - and Mark Webber.
Mercedes will also reveal its 2011 car at the Ricardo Tormo circuit on Tuesday, as will Toro Rosso, while the new Williams will make its test debut with an interim livery.
No rain and mild temperatures are forecast for the first day of pre-season testing in Cheste, which is 25 kilometres from the Spanish port city Valencia.
Source: Nextgen
Red Bull Racing have announced that their 2011 car will be launched on Tuesday, 1 February at Valencia on the opening day of the first all team test session at the circuit in Spain.
The reigning World Champion team announced that the Adrian Newey designed RB7 will be uncovered by Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, as in previous years a no frills unveiling, in the Circuito Ricardo Tormo pit lane shortly before testing action begins on track.
Newey said of his new creation, “It (the 2011 RB7) is a further evolution of the current series. The DNA of the car is the same. The (2010) RB6 was basically an evolution of the last car; one basically turned into the next.”
Earlier this month reports circulated suggesting that the team were facing a race against time to make the first official test with their new car.
Source: YallaF1.com
The reigning World Champion's title defence got off to the best start possible in Australia where he claimed pole position and the race victory. 
