World champion Sebastian Vettel took pole position for the first time this season in edging Lewis Hamilton at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where security remained tight yesterday amid expectations of fresh anti-government protests.

Vettel, whose best finish this year was second at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, clocked 1 minute, 32.422 seconds in his Red Bull. As he finished his final lap, Vettel yelled through the team radio "Yes, yes, we did it."

It was his 31st career Formula One pole and second in Bahrain.

The German's time was 0.98 seconds quicker than series leader Hamilton, who like Vettel is looking for his first win of the season. Hamilton has finished third in all three races this season.

Vettel's Red Bull teammate Mark Webber was third followed by the Hamilton's McLaren teammate Jenson Button.

Hamilton was able to overtake Webber on his final qualifying lap and said he was relishing the chance to take on the two Red Bulls.

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg, who won his first F1 race in China last week, had a disappointing qualifying after clocking the fastest time in the final practice. He will start fifth.

His teammate, seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, didn't get past the first qualifying session and will start 18th after enduring problems with his DRS rear wing flap.

Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo will start sixth in the highest grid position of his short F1 career.

Ferrari's struggles continued. Fernando Alonso qualified ninth, although he didn't run in the final qualifying session in order to save a set a tires for the race, which is expected to be particularly hard on tires. Felipe Massa was 14th.

Pastor Maldonado of Williams was penalized five grid places after replacing his gearbox, and will start 22nd.

In contrast to Ferrari, Red Bull finally appeared to have sorted out the balance problems that were blamed for them missing out on the podium in the last two races.

Hamilton leads the driver standings two points ahead of Button, who won the season-opening Australian GP and finished second in China. Alonso, who won the Malaysian GP, was third, followed by Webber and Vettel.

For much of the day drivers struggled with tough conditions on the track as temperatures reached 43 degrees (109 F) and winds whipped up sand from the surrounding desert.

Security at the circuit was tight following days of sometimes violent anti-government protests in Bahrain.

Bahrain authorities opened an investigation on Saturday after the body of a man was found near the scene of Friday's clashes between protesters and security forces — in an area about 20 kilometers from the circuit.

Opposition groups claimed the man was killed by riot police in another possible blow to the Gulf nation as it struggles to quell unrest during the highly awaited return of the race after it was canceled last year.

A statement by Bahrain's Interior Ministry said a probe was under way but the death nonetheless will likely intensify a wave of expected protests against the race later in the day.