Formula One news

Alonso snatches Silverstone pole

Fernando Alonso snatched pole position for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone ahead of Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher. Qualifying took place on another very hot day at the British circuit with air temperature reaching 30 degrees Centigrade.

The first knock out session claimed big scalps in the form of Jenson Button and Mark Webber. The Williams was just slow while Button was called into the weigh-bridge after his first timed lap, but was apparently unable to get back out on track in time to post a second timed lap - though there appeared to still be enough time. Jarno Trulli pulled into the pits on his flying lap only for his engine to explode, so he too dropped out.

The second session saw Coulthard, Rosberg, Liuzzi, Klien, Speed and Monteiro drop out. David Coulthard was particularly incensed - gesturing furiously Juan Pablo Montoya's pit wall claiming that the Colombian had blocked him on his fast lap.

In the final session Michael Schumacher led right until the final moment until Alonso went 0.3s faster and stole pole. Schumacher dropped to third as Kimi Raikkonen cut the beam in 1m20.397s to go second.

Felipe Massa qualified fourth ahead of Fisichella, Barrichello, Ralf and Montoya. BMW's Nick Heidfeld and Jacques Villeneuve rounded off the top ten.

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