Toro Rosso driver Sebastian Vettel, of Germany, celebrates after clinching pole position for today's Formula One Grand Prix in Monza, Italy. - AP

MONZA, Italy (AP):

SEBASTIAN VETTEL of Toro Rosso will become the youngest Formula One driver to start from the pole position after setting the fastest time yesterday in a rain-affected qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix.

The 21-year-old German driver took advantage of the rain-drenched Monza circuit to earn the first pole for him and the team. McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen took second and Red Bull's Mark Webber came third.

"What can I say, I never dreamed of being on pole. It's unbelievable," Vettel said.

Overall F1 leader Lewis Hamilton of McLaren will start today's race from 15th place and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen from 14th after both drivers failed to advance from the second session due to the rain.

big group

"I don't want to even imagine if you are on (position) 15," said Vettel of the precarious conditions. "There will be a big group and it could be a mess. That might not make it safe."

Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who trails Hamilton by two points, will start sixth. The Brazilian driver is in position to take over the championship lead after his steady drive in treacherous conditions.

"It's true it could have been better, but it could also have been much worse," Massa said. "I am ahead of my rivals in the fight for the championship."

Vettel jumped out of his car pumping his fists to receive congratulations from fellow drivers. He then ran out into pit lane to celebrate with his team, who cheered as the final qualifying session timed out.

nearly impossible

"I was joking with my engineers, saying if it's wet we have to go for pole position," said Vettel, who will replace the retiring David Coulthard at Red Bull next year. "We didn't know what to expect, how wet it was, how much rain there would be. It was so difficult today, especially with the traffic ... it was nearly impossible to see anything." Toro Rosso has never finished on the podium in an F1 race, and Vettel is cautious about his team's prospects.

"We don't know how the weather is going to be. If it's wet, how wet will it be?" Vettel said. "(But) going on the podium would be unreal. But we have to keep our feet on the ground, it will be a very, very tough race."

Vettel's lap time of one minute, 37.555 seconds over the 5.793-kilometre (3.6-mile) circuit was nearly 16 seconds off the pace set by eventual winner Fernando Alonso last year.

Vettel's teammate, Sebastien Bourdais, will start fourth ahead of Nico Rosberg of Williams.