Hamilton storms to Shanghai pole

[4me2]

China Grand Prix

• Hamilton pole
• Qualifying

It's my first time here and I slowly got to grips with it and I'm absolutely chuffed



Lewis Hamilton

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton took another giant step towards winning the world title by claiming pole position for Sunday's China Grand Prix in Shanghai.
The 22-year-old Briton, who leads the championship standings by 12 points, finished ahead of Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.
World champion Fernando Alonso, Hamilton's team-mate and closest rival, could only qualify fourth on the grid.
Victory in China would give Hamilton the drivers' title in his debut season.
"Thanks a lot guys, mega job. The car was fantastic," Hamilton said on the team radio after setting his best lap of the weekend in the dying seconds.
Hamilton, bidding to become the first rookie in Formula One history to win the prestigious title, had trailed Raikkonen and Massa for the majority of the session.
But he produced a time of one minute 35.908 seconds on his final lap in Qualifying Three to edge out Raikkonen by just over a tenth of a second.
MY SPORT: DEBATE
Discuss Hamilton's qualifying performance

It was a remarkable turn-around for the Briton, who had looked off the pace of the Ferraris and team-mate Alonso all weekend.
And, coming on the back of a turbulent few days in which it appeared as if he might be docked points for his behaviour behind the safety car in Japan last week, Hamilton admitted he was "over the moon" at grabbing pole position.
"It has been a rollercoaster week and an emotional journey for me over the last couple of days," he said.
"I tried as best as I could to put the Japan GP inquiry behind me but it's not easy. Then we came here this morning not really having the pace of the Ferraris or Alonso and perhaps it wasn't looking good.
"But it's my first time here and I slowly got to grips with it and I'm absolutely chuffed to grab pole."

I would say we are running on different fuel loads... I'm happy and comfortable with our position and strategy



Kimi Raikkonen


However, Raikkonen insisted his second-place finish was down to him having a heavier fuel load, saying: "If you look at Qualifying One and Qualifying Two, we were a lot quicker.
"So I would say we are running on different fuel loads. I'm happy and comfortable with our position and strategy."
David Coulthard will start an excellent fifth in his Red Bull, ahead of Toyota's Ralf Schumacher and team-mate Mark Webber.
BMW Sauber duo Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica line-up eighth and ninth, while Jenson Button's Honda completes the Top 10.
However, it was a disappointing session for Renault's Heikki Kovalainen, who will start from 14th having finished second in Japan last week. Final qualfying positions for China GP:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren 1 min 35.908 seconds
2. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:36.044
3. Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 1:36.221
4. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:36.576
5. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull 1:37.619
6. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:38.013
7. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull 1:38.153
8. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:38.455
9. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:38.472
10. Jenson Button (GB) Honda 1:39.285
11. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso 1:36.862
12. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso 1:36.891
13. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:36.959
14. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault 1:36.991
15. Anthony Davidson (GB) Super Aguri 1:37.247
16. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-BMW 1:37.483
17. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Honda 1:37.251
18. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:37.290
19. Alexander Wurz (Aut) Williams-BMW 1:37.456
20. Takuma Sato (Jap) Super Aguri 1:38.218
21. Adrian Sutil (Ger) Spyker 1:38.668
22. Sakon Yamamoto (Jap) Spyker 1:39.336


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/7031229.stm

[blaggard]

Good to see him cleared yesterday and letting his driving do the talking today.

[MsDG]

Good news... Alonso will have a tuff job trying to crash lewis out of the race, but i'm sure he will give it his best shot!

[Absurd]

Good news... Alonso will have a tuff job trying to crash lewis out of the race, but i'm sure he will give it his best shot!

Massa on the other hand has absolutely nothing to lose by doing this and Ferrari have everything to gain.

[blaggard]

I would hope that Massa would not be involved in anything like and I suspect Kimi would tell them to fuck off. Lewis needs to keep well clear of sulky Alonso though.

[casio]

massa just wants to beat kimi and try to hang on to the drive next year rather than end up at toyota so i cant see it

6 tenths up on alonso though that was awesome considering theyre in the same car and they have been as close as they have been all quali just remember that theyve all been there 4 times before while hamilton is on his first time

lol just heard about alonso chucking a wobbler throwing his helmet and knocking a door off its hinges

[4me2]

lol just heard about alonso chucking a wobbler throwing his helmet and knocking a door off its hinges

Where did you hear/see that?

[Absurd]

Where did you hear/see that?

Was on the Qualifying replay just on ITV, quite funny

[4me2]

Was on the Qualifying replay just on ITV, quite funny

Bollox I missed it.

[-AMO-]

Bollox I missed it.

You didn't miss anything as there was nothing to see. It was just reported by the presenter.

[MsDG]

6 tenths up on alonso though that was awesome considering theyre in the same car

If they were in the same car, Alonsa is bound to be 6 tenths slower across the line because obviously he must be sitting in the back seat!

Which if you think about it,is cheating. I say get your own car you cheating spainish paella eater!

[tips]

I say get your own car you cheating spainish paella eater!

bauhahahahah. super comment.

[tips]

6:00 a.m. Something REALLY worth gettin the fuck up for. COME ON LEWIS.

[4me2]

Hes out bellied himself in the gravel in the pitlane entrance.

[toonarmynufc]

cant fucking belive it .he should have came in alot sooner well its back 2 the grad prix