Frome's Jenson Button will be fifth on the grid for the Chinese Grand Prix tomorrow after missing out on a third consecutive pole in qialifying today.

Button will have to make his bid for a third successive victory from fifth for Brawn GP, while Lewis Hamilton will start ninth for McLaren.

He was out-qualified for the first time this season by team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who secured fourth, while Toyota's Jarno Trulli will start sixth.

"Of course we would rather be on the front row of the grid but we will give it our best shot in the race tomorrow and see what happens," said Button.

Sebastian Vettel reflected on an "unbelievable" performance after shunning mechanical problems to claim Red Bull Racing's first ever pole position.

The Renault-powered cars of Vettel and team-mate Mark Webber were beset by driveshaft problems during morning practice and as a result the team decided to play it safe in qualifying, limiting Vettel to just one lap per session.

The 21-year-old German produced on each occasion, however, stunning the rest of the field to capture his first pole since Monza last year.

"I am very, very happy," said Vettel. "It is unbelievable that we made it to pole position in the end.

"This morning was not ideal but it seems the less I run in free practice then the better I am in qualifying.

"I am happy with the team, all the mechanics are working really hard, they were working all through the night and have done a great job."

Fernando Alonso also turned heads by securing second in his modified Renault, which donned a revised diffuser and was running without the KERS energy-boost system for the first time this season.

Webber's third place, meanwhile, capped a fine day for the Red Bull squad.

"There is no question this team has taken a big step forward since last year in terms of performance," said the Australian.

"Now we need to realise that beginning this Sunday afternoon.

"It is a big credit for the team with what they have done from Brazil [the final race of last year] to now."

Williams' Nico Rosberg, who has dominated the majority of the practice sessions so far this season, was seventh fastest, while Kimi Raikkonen secured eighth in his Ferrari, which was running without KERS for the first time this season.

Rookie Sebastien Buemi of Toro Rosso progressed to Q3 for the first time this year and completed the top 10, while Ferrari's Felipe Massa was down in 13th.