Hamilton puts his McLaren on pole at Fuji

F1 Grand Prix, GP Japan, Fuji Speedway

Lewis Hamilton has made another good step in the challenge for the championship by taking pole position for the Japanese GP. He is joined on the first line by Kimi Raikkonen while the main title contender, Felipe Massa, will only be 5th.

Qualifying kicked off on a drying track after a quick shower earlier today. The racing line is mostly dry and the track temperature is 22°C.

Piquet and Nakajima are the first men out, but it is Massa who sets the first interesting time with 1:18.523. At the halfway point, Hamilton improves to 1:18.232, along with Piquet who pips his car in between Hamilton and Massa.

With five minutes to go it is then Glock who sets the fastest time. He thereby confirms his pace from Friday as he already topped FP2. The second man of the session, Alonso, on the other hand is still 11th and has his car adjusted with a little bit more front wing.

After a tense final few minutes, Glock still finds himself on top after further improving his earlier time. Hamilton is second, followed by Massa, Raikkonen, Kovalainen, Alonso and Piquet.

Less fortunate is Nick Heidfeld who is again out in Q1. He missed out with 0.1 seconds. With him are both Honda's and the Force India cars. Mario Theissen may already have second thoughts about signing up Heidfeld for next year after repeated dismal performances this year, especially in qualifying.

Q2 is opened by the race sight of both Ferraris leaving as first. Timo Glock quickly follows suit. All three men are now out on the softer tyre with 3 green lines and 1 white. Fortunately though, the 'Green Tyre' will only last one GP, as it is very hard to distinguish the green from the white lines.

In conformance with this year's form, Felipe Massa is a massive 0.4 seconds ahead of his teammate. Glock is now a bit less quick and is behind the two and slower that his own teammate, Jarno Trulli.

Massa then further improves in the closing stages, staying ahead of Kovalainen, Hamilton and Trulli. Glock savours Q3 with 5th place while Alonso also just gets into the final qualifying with the 8th fastest time.

Out are Coulthard, Piquet, Webber, Nakajima and Rosberg. It again marks the strength of Toro Rosso, as both their cars are through to Q3, while neither Red Bull is.

Q3 ignites 2 minutes after the timer started. Glock is first out but it is Kimi Raikkonen who proves fastest in the first attempts, almost surprisingly faster than Massa. Hamilton is third, , Kovalainen 4th and Kubica 5th.

After the tyre changes, Raikkonen is the first to complete his flying lap, improving by 2 tenths his own time. Massa is unable to match that pace but Hamilton tops that and is likely to end up on pole. Kovalainen and Alonso even top Massa's time, putting the Brazilian in 5th place only.