15/09/2007
NEWS STORY
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As the lights turn from red to green, indicating the start of today's qualifying session, the air temperature is 17 degrees, while the track temperature is 28 degrees. It remains bright, but decidedly cool.
First out is Yamamoto, who crashed out of this morning's session. Kovalainen, Fisichella, Schumacher, Trulli and Sutil are the other early risers.
Fisichella posts the first time of the session, crossing the line at 1:48.262, however, moments later teammate Kovalainen goes quicker (48.127). However, this too is beaten as Trulli posts 47.787.
As Hamilton leaves the pits, Kubica goes quickest (47.654). The Pole will forfeit ten places on the grid after the team changed his engine following a valve failure.
Rosberg goes second, ahead of Trulli, Kovalainen and Fisichella, as the Ferrari crew works on the back of Massa's car. With the clock ticking - seven minutes remaining - the pressure is on the Italian team.
Sutil - yes Sutil - goes quickest in the first sector, but this is soon eclipsed by Hamilton.
Heidfeld goes quickest (46.923), as Sutil goes thirteenth. A great lap from the German.
Hamilton, Alonso and Raikkonen all on track. The Englishman goes quickest, crossing the line at 46.058. However, moments later Alonso goes quicker and Raikkonen goes second.
With just over four minutes remaining, Massa finally leaves the pits. Schumacher and Coulthard are still in the danger zone.
With 2.28 on the clock, Massa begins his first flying lap of the session. Meanwhile, Heidfeld goes fourth, ahead of Kubica, Rosberg, Trulli and Liuzzi.
Massa goes quickest of all in the first sector, losing just a little ground in the second. At the line it's !:46.060, which puts him second by 0.002.
Amazing, Sutil improves to twelfth, and appears to have made the cut. However, Coulthard, Schumacher and Button are all on track.
Liuzzi goes sixth, but is then edged out by Schumacher and Coulthard. There are a whole rash of improvements, and by the time the smoke has settled and the engines cut, Vettel, Barrichello, Sato, Sutil, Davidson and Yamamoto are all out, having fallen at the first hurdle.
Quickest was Alonso, ahead of Massa, Raikkonen, Hamilton, Kubica, Heidfeld, Rosberg, Kovalainen, Webber and Trulli.
The lights go green for the second phase, but as is ever the case, nobody seems willing to get to work.
Three minutes into the session, Fisichella is first out, followed by Kovalainen and Button. Hamilton is the first of the 'big guns' to go out, followed, a few moments later, by his teammate. As the McLarens head down the pitlane the two Ferraris follow.
Fisichella posts the benchmark, crossing the line at 46.693, but this is immediately beaten by Kovalainen, who posts 46.240.
All eyes on Raikkonen as the Finn goes quickest in the firs sector. The Ferrari driver crosses the line at 45.070, a stunningly fast lap. Moments later, Hamilton goes second (45.132), ahead of Massa and Alonso.
Webber goes sixth, ahead of Rosberg, as Wurz remains in the danger zone, along with Liuzzi and Trulli.
It all goes quiet for a couple of minutes as the cars refuel for the final assault. With 2.49 on the clock there in nobody on track. Finally, Kovalainen breaks the deadlock, the final runs begin. Except for the top, who, satisfied that they've done enough, watch their rivals from the comfort of their cars.
When the chequered flag comes out Mark Webber has not begun his lap, being eighth on the timesheets he is far from safe.
Kovalainen gets it all wrong at Bus Stop and aborts the lap, thing is, has he made the cut?
Trulli improves to tenth, while Coulthard and Button fail to improve, and consequently they're out, along with Wurz, Liuzzi, Schumacher and Fisichella. Another bad session for the German and the Austrian, neither of whom has a drive sorted for next season yet.
Raikkonen was quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Massa, Alonso, Kubica, Heidfeld, Kovalainen, Webber - who did indeed make the cut - Rosberg and Trulli.
As has become the norm, Hamilton leads the traffic jam at the end of the pitlane ahead of the start of phase three. Behind his is Massa and then Raikkonen.
On the long climb up the hill to Les Combes, Massa closes in and passes Hamilton, who seems to be taken by surprise. Indeed, the Englishman goes slightly off track.
Raikkonen goes quickest in the first sector, as Hamilton goes quickest in the second. Massa goes quickest, but is soon displaced by Hamilton and Raikkonen, who goes second.
Rosberg and Alonso have their own little private battle, which could lead to a few harsh words later this afternoon.
The first round of pits stops gets underway, and almost everyone goes for the softer option tyre.
And Tottenham have scored against Arsenal! Woo Hoo!
Massa, Raikkonen and Hamilton are all on quick laps, however, the Finn appears to have the edge. Kubica is also pushing hard, despite the grid penalty.
Massa goes quickest (47.038), but moments later Raikkonen goes quicker with a 46.533. As Hamilton goes third, Alonso spins at Rivage. Kubica is fourth, ahead of Webber, Heidfeld and Rosberg.
Hamilton is told that he's losing time in the mid sector. Meanwhile, Raikkonen makes a long final pit stop.
A little out of sync, not to mention tenth on the timesheets, Alonso is the last driver to make a final stop. With two minutes remaining the fight for pole is truly on.
Hamilton is in traffic, with Kubica running jusr a few seconds ahead.
Massa goes quickest in the first sector, but then Hamilton goes quicker. However, Raikkonen goes quicker than the pair of them.
In the second sector Massa goes quickest, going on to take provisional pole with a 46.011, however, Raikkonen is still on track, as are Hamilton and Alonso.
Hamilton goes second 46.406, only to be demoted as Raikkonen goes quickest of the lot with a 45.994. A banzai effort from Alonso sees the Spaniard go third, thereby demoting his teammate to fourth.
Kubica takes fifth, which means he will start fifteenth, with Rosberg sixth, ahead of Heidfeld, Webber, Trulli and Kovalainen.
Ferrari has its first front row 'lock out' since Japan 2006, as the Italian outfit looks to make up for the humiliation of Monza.
In all honesty, the Italian team has looked good all weekend, and unless McLaren has something up its sleeve it looks likely that the red cars will consolidate Ferrari's world Championship lead tomorrow.
God, that's so bloody annoying. After a superb performance, why does Kimi have to put his sunglasses on top of his Bridgestone cap? Bloody annoying.
Anyway, the good news is that there's talk of rain tomorrow, which should come as some relief after the thunderstorm that appears to be building in the paddock this afternoon.
Ho Hum!
To check out our Spa Qualifying gallery, click here