Formula One news

Massa storms to Malaysian pole

Felipe Massa stormed to pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix on Saturday, leading a Ferrari fight-back with Kimi Raikkonen 0.5s behind in second place. Heikki Kovalainen qualified third ahead of Lewis Hamilton but the McLaren pair are almost a full second off Massa's pace.

Qualifying got underway at the newly resurfaced Sepang circuit in very hot and humid conditions, amid concerns that the teams could be in for some brief rain showers. The first session saw Fisichella, Nakajuma, Bourdais, Sato, Sutil and Davidson eliminated.

The second session eliminated Button, Coulthard, Piquet, Barrichello, Vettel and Rosberg meaning neither Williams made the top ten after both finished in the points a week ago in Australia.

In the final pole shoot-out, Raikkonen looked to have it all under control until Massa pulled out an unbelievable lap to go half a second faster and take pole position. The two Ferraris lead the two McLarens with Jarno Trulli impressing again in the Toyota in fifth. 

Kubica and Heidfeld took sixth and seventh for BMW ahead of Webber, Alonso and Timo Glock rounded off the top ten as he recovers from his major crash in Australia.

more news

• 25 Jul.
  • Sutil happy with Force India progress
  • Grosjean rounds off Renault test
  • Kovalainen fastest on final day
  • Raikkonen confident problems are solved
  • Photos: Friday in Jerez
  • Stewart: Mosley should resign
  • Webber happy with test progress
  • Piquet enjoys slicks experience
• 24 Jul.
  • Good day for Force India
  • Webber fastest in Jerez
  • Glock feels good after full day of testing
  • Vettel enjoys slicks
  • Mosley wins case in high court
  • Photos: Thursday in Jerez
  • Trulli: There's more to come!
  • Jerez too hot for Toyota
• 23 Jul.
  • Force India joins the action
  • Piquet back behind the wheel
  • Vettel gets to grips with slicks
  • Vettel still on top in Jerez
  • Buemi eyes Toro Rosso for 2009
  • BMW mechanic kept in hospital overnight
  • Photos: Wednesday in Jerez
  • Q&A with Timo Glock
• 22 Jul.
  • Toyota spends day running slicks
  • Grosjean back in action for Renault
  • Vettel sets pace at Jerez
  • 'Shocked' mechanic ends BMW's day at Jerez
  • Renault still targets fourth
  • Photos: Tuesday in Jerez
  • Hamilton on his German Grand Prix win
  • Testing gets under way at Jerez
  • Ferrari boss confused by Kimi's lack of pace
• 21 Jul.
  • Ferrari boss reflects on tough race
  • Glock leaves hospital
  • Mercedes enjoys Hamilton's victory
  • McLaren boss explains strategy call
  • Symonds grateful to lady luck
• 20 Jul.
  • McLaren celebrates Hockenheim victory
  • Not a good day at Ferrari

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