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07 Sep 2008

Qualifying analysis - Hamilton leaves Ferrari playing catch-up

VOTE

Kimi Raikkonen has won the last three Belgian Grands Prix. Will he make it four in a row this weekend?

Definitely
start point start point start point 31.58%
Possibly
start point start point start point 40.81%
Unlikely
start point start point start point 27.60%

GALLERY

Belgian Grand Prix - Saturday at Spa

  • Formula Una girl. Formula One World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Qualifying Day, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Saturday, 6 September 2008
  • Sebastian Vettel (GER) Scuderia Toro Rosso. Formula One World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Qualifying Day, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Saturday, 6 September 2008
  • Jarno Trulli (ITA) Toyota TF108. Formula One World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Qualifying Day, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Saturday, 6 September 2008
  • David Coulthard (GBR) Red Bull Racing. Formula One World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Qualifying Day, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Saturday, 6 September 2008
  • Jacky Ickx (BEL). Formula One World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Qualifying Day, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Saturday, 6 September 2008
  • Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull Racing RB4. Formula One World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Qualifying Day, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Saturday, 6 September 2008

FLAT THROUGH EAU ROUGE?

A flying lap of Spa-Francorchamps

Honda reserve driver Alex Wurz, a veteran of four Belgian Grands Prix, gives us the driver's-eye guide to the famous Spa circuit...

SPA FLASHBACK 2007

Kimi does the hat trick

A stunning third successive Belgian Grand Prix victory last year was enough to keep Kimi Raikkonen's seemingly slim title hopes alive...

GALLERY

Belgian Grand Prix atmosphere

  • Atmosphere, Belgian Grand Prix 2008, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Friday, 05 September © Martin Trenkler / Reporter Images
  • Heikki Kovalainen (FIN), McLaren, McLaren Mercedes MP4-23, Belgian Grand Prix 2008, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Friday, 05 September © Martin Trenkler / Reporter Images
  • Robert Kubica (POL), BMW Sauber, BMW Sauber F1.08, Belgian Grand Prix 2008, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Friday, 05 September © Martin Trenkler / Reporter Images

HALL OF FAME

Phil Hill, 1927-2008

He won only three Grands Prix, but will be remembered as one of the most enigmatic world champions. We look back on the American's F1 career...

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

McLaren's Ron Dennis

A year ago he was fighting both on the track and in the court room. Now it's all about the racing and Dennis is relishing the battle once more...

GALLERY

Belgian Grand Prix highlights

  • Race winner Jackie Stewart (GBR) Tyrrell celebrates his victory on the podium. Belgian Grand Prix, Zolder, 20 May 1973. World © Phipps/Sutton
  • Second placed Michael Schumacher (GER) Ferrari celebrates his seventh World Championship. Formula One World Championship, Rd14, Belgian Grand Prix, Race Day, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, 29 August 2004.
  • Fifth place finisher John Surtees (GBR) Lola Mk4 passes the stricken Cooper T60 of Bruce McLaren (NZL), who retired with oil pressure trouble. Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps, 17 June 1962.
CAPTURED SAT Qual at 15:01:28
Hamilton takes pole for Sunday's race
CAPTURED SAT Qual at 15:01:54
Massa takes P2 on the grid for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix
CAPTURED SAT Qual at 14:44:45
Bourdais makes it into Q3, as does Toro Rosso team mate Vettel
CAPTURED SAT Qual at 14:39:47
Trulli - like team mate Glock - fails to make Q3 for Toyota
CAPTURED SAT Qual at 14:32:56
Alonso manages to get back on track after running wide out of the corner
CAPTURED SAT Qual at 14:23:04
Kovalainen is second quickest in Q1, with the fastest time set by Bourdais
CAPTURED SAT Qual at 14:21:39
Like Honda team mate Button, Barrichello fails to make Q2
CAPTURED SAT Qual at 14:08:22
Hamilton back on form for McLaren
CAPTURED SAT Qual at 14:00:08
Piquet sets the time to beat at the start of qualifying
CAPTURED SAT Qual at 14:00:34
Heidfeld focuses before the start of qualifying
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 12:04:19
Heidfeld is the quickest at the end of the third session
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:59:50
Kovalainen puts in quicker times than team mate Hamilton
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:52:47
Hamilton pushes a little too hard and runs wide onto the gravel
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:51:22
Massa makes an appearance in the third session with six minutes remaining
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:45:48
Bourdais consistently putting in quick lap times for Toro Rosso
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:45:01
Raikkonen brakes heavily and locks up the front left wheel
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:39:32
Nakajima running dry tyres on the Williams
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:24:31
Webber running wet tyres for this practice session
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:23:38
A close up of Glock's steering wheel
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:14:48
Heidfeld accelerates out of the chicane towards the start/finish straight
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:10:05
A hello from Trulli
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:10:17
Inside the cockpit of Kubica's BMW Sauber
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:05:55
Onboard with Kovalainen as he enters the pit lane
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:02:33
Button manages to cover half a lap before suspected mechanical problems bring him to a stop
CAPTURED SAT Prac at 11:00:05
Fisichella is first out for the start of the third session on a wet track

Related items

LAST RACE

Europe
01 F.Massa 1:35:32.339
02 L.Hamilton +5.6 secs
03 R.Kubica +37.3 secs
Fastest Lap
F.Massa 1:38.708
Pole Position
F.Massa 1:38.989

DRIVER STANDINGS

01 Lewis Hamilton 70
02 Felipe Massa 64
03 Kimi Räikkönen 57
04 Robert Kubica 55
05 Heikki Kovalainen 43
06 Nick Heidfeld 41
07 Jarno Trulli 26
08 Fernando Alonso 18
09 Mark Webber 18
10 Timo Glock 15
11 Nelsinho Piquet 13
12 Rubens Barrichello 11
13 Nico Rosberg 9
14 Sebastian Vettel 9
15 Kazuki Nakajima 8

CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS

01 Ferrari 121
02 McLaren-Mercedes 113
03 BMW Sauber 96
04 Toyota 41
05 Renault 31
06 Red Bull-Renault 24
07 Williams-Toyota 17
08 Honda 14
09 STR-Ferrari 11
10 Force India-Ferrari 0