Formula One news

Massa upstages title protagonists

Felipe Massa stormed to pole position at Interlagos this afternoon ahead of Hamilton, Raikkonen and Alonso and looks set to play a crucial part in deciding this year's drivers' championship.

Massa set the early pace in Q1, half a second clear of Alonso, Raikkonen and Hamilton but the only shock of the session cam when Kovalainen failed to make it through to Q2. Sato, debutant Nakajima, Davidson, Sutil and Yamamoto, joined him for an early bath.

There was a frantic scrabble for the top ten in the final moments of Q2 with Barrichello, Fisichella, Vettel, Liuzzi, Ralf and Button dropping out.

For the final pole shoot-out of the season, Lewis Hamilton led Alonso and Raikkonen out of the pit lane as the tension mounted at Interlagos. Despite a valiant attempt from the three championship protagonists it was local hero Felipe Massa who swooped to pole with a storming lap of 1m11.931s ahead of Hamilton, Raikkonen and Alonso languishing in fourth, albeit just 0.034s behind Raikkonen. 

Mark Webber was an impressive fifth for Red Bull ahead of Heidfeld, Kubica, Trulli, Coulthard and Rosberg.

more news

• 05 Sep.
  • McLaren to open office in US
  • Massa tops first free practice at Spa
  • Photos: Friday at Spa-Francorchamps
  • Vettel to test Red Bull this month
• 04 Sep.
  • Massa eyes up vital six final races
  • Raikkonen hopes for dry weekend
  • Photos: Thursday at Spa-Francorchamps
  • Coulthard: The engines make the difference
• 03 Sep.
  • Bridgestone going hard on Spa
  • Former Albers manager teams up with Doornbos
  • Massa: Beating Raikkonen will be difficult at Spa
  • Belgian Grand Prix technical preview
• 02 Sep.
  • Raikkonen: I need a good result at Spa
  • Button: Spa is just great!
  • Brawn hopes for mixed weather conditions
  • Toro Rosso invites Sato and Buemi for test
  • Glock hoping to score more points
  • Renault not giving up on fourth
  • Piquet determined to score at Spa
• 01 Sep.
  • Ecclestone supports Mosley
  • Trulli expects another strong weekend
  • Alonso determined to bounce back
  • Cregan to leave Toyota at end of season
  • Belgian Grand Prix snap shot
  • Mercedes boss expects tight end to season
• 31 Aug.
  • Alonso pleased with test progress
  • Honda still looking for Monza set up
• 30 Aug.
  • Force India eyes Honda after test progress
  • BMW boss wants both cars in the points
  • Aero updates for McLaren at Spa
  • Heidfeld in determined mood for Spa
• 29 Aug.
  • Hamilton finishes test on top
  • Another accolade for Frank Williams
  • Hamilton relishing Spa challenge
  • Photos: Friday in Monza
  • Former champion Phil Hill passes away
  • Alonso happy with first day at wheel
  • Rosberg hopeful of upward trend
• 28 Aug.
  • Heidfeld on top at Monza
  • Photos: Thursday in Monza

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