Chinese GP: Hamilton on pole ahead of the Ferraris

Lewis Hamilton took pole position in qualifying Chinese Grand Prix. In Shanghai the pilot of the McLaren Mercedes beat the two Ferrari by Kimi Raikkonen e Felipe Massa. Fourth time for Alonso (Renault) who precedes the other McLaren of Kovalainen and the Red Bull of Webber who however will lose 10 positions on the grid due to the engine replacement, allowing Nick Heidfeld to enter the top six. Negative qualifying for the other title contender, Robert Kubica, only 12th.

Hamilton was the author of an unsatisfactory first run in Q3, when he was only fifth after an error in the central section. The Englishman then managed to make up for it, beating Raikkonen by over 3 tenths. Massa found himself ahead of the world championship leader in the first runs in Q3 but was unable to improve and will therefore start third, half a second from pole.

Both Toro Rossos are still in the top ten, with an excellent eighth and tenth place in Q3 with Vettel and Bourdais respectively. Among them Trulli's Toyota.

Disappointing qualifying for Piquet (Renault) and Glock (Toyota), who failed to emulate the progression of their teammates in Q3, only managing 11th and 13th positions.

Team Driver Pos Q1 Q2 Q3      
 1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:35.566 1:34.947 1:36.303
 2. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:35.983 1:35.355 1:36.645
 3. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:35.971 1:35.135 1:36.889
 4. Alonso Renault (B) 1:35.769 1:35.461 1:36.927
 5. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:35.623 1:35.216 1:36.930
 6. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:36.238 1:35.686 1:37.083
 7. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:36.224 1:35.403 1:37.201
 8. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:35.752 1:35.386 1:37.685
 9. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:36.104 1:35.715 1:37.934
10. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:36.239 1:35.478 1:38.885
11. Piquet Renault (B) 1:36.029 1:35.722
12. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:36.503 1:35.814
13. Glock Toyota (B) 1:36.210 1:35.937
14. Barrichello Honda (B) 1:36.640 1:36.079
15. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:36.434 1:36.210
16. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:36.731
17. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:36.863
18. Button Honda (B) 1:37.053
19. Sutil Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:37.730
20. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:37.739