Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel overcame slippery conditions Saturday to clinch pole position at the season-ending Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old German, who last month secured his fourth consecutive world championship, topped qualifying for the ninth time this season, finishing in 1 minute 26.479 seconds at Interlagos.

His compatriot Nico Rosberg, of Mercedes, was second in 1:27.102 and Spain's Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) third in 1:27.539.

Vettel has given himself the chance to equal Michael Schumacher's record of 13 wins in a year on Sunday, a feat that would also see him match Alberto Ascari's mark of nine consecutive victories in 1952 and 1953.

"I was surprised by the margin," Vettel said. "It's great in these conditions to get it all right after very little practice. We still got the car where we wanted in the end, so we're very happy."

Top 10 qualifiers for Brazilian Grand Prix:

1. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull-Renault 1min 26.479sec

2. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes-Mercedes 1:27.102

3. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari-Ferrari 1:27.539

4. Mark Webber (Australia) Red Bull-Renault 1:27.572s

5. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes-Mercedes 1:27.677

6. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus-Renault 1:27.737

7. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:28.052

8. Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:28.081

9. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari-Ferrari 1:28.109

10. Nico Hulkenberg (Germany) Sauber-Ferrari 1:29.582