Massa grabs pole in Magny-Cours to stop Hamilton hat-trick

By Elmar Dreher Jun 30, 2007, 16:44 GMT

Magny-Cours, France - Ferrari's Felipe Massa prevented Formula One racing sensation Lewis Hamilton from claiming a third successive pole position on Saturday as the Brazilian registered the fastest qualifying time for Sunday's French Grand Prix.

Massa clocked a time of one minute 15.034 seconds for the 4.411-kilometre circuit at Magny-Cours, followed by Hamilton in his McLaren Mercedes in 1:15.104 minutes.

'It's definitely a good weekend for us,' said Massa after securing his fourth pole position in 2007. 'I think that's really encouraging. We are back fighting.'

Hamilton was philosophical about missing out on a third successive pole and remained confident that he could secure a hat-trick of race wins Sunday in what is almost certain to be the last F1 race at the circuit.

'You can't be perfect all the time,' said the 22-year-old Briton. 'I had the car to be pole but I lost a bit of time on turn 15.'

Kimi Raikkonen will start from third on the grid in the second Ferrari alongside BMW-Sauber driver Robert Kubica, who qualified in fourth on his return to the track.

'There have been hard times but that is how it is sometimes,' said the Finn after qualifying in one of the top three positions for the first time since the Spanish GP in Barcelona in May.

'I think it's pretty close so we'll see how things go in the race tomorrow.'

Defending world champion Fernando Alonso struggled with what McLaren believe is a gearbox problem and qualified down in 10th place after failing to register a time in the final qualifying session.

Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella qualified in fifth, followed by team-mate Heikki Kovalainen in sixth. Nick Heidfeld was seventh fastest in the second BMW with Jarno Trulli an impressive eighth for Toyota.

There is a threat of rain during Sunday's race but Massa said he was looking forward to a tough contest regardless.

'Hopefully, we'll have a great race, no matter what the conditions,' he said.

Hamilton currently leads the drivers' standings with 58 points, 10 clear of Alonso with Massa third on 39 and Raikkonen fourth on 32 points.