Massa edges Hamilton for European GP pole

Aug 23, 2008, 14:58 GMT

Brazilian Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Ferrari steers his car during the third training session at the Formula One Valencia Street Circuit in Valencia, Spain, on 23 August 2008. The Formula One Grand Prix of Europe will take place here on 24 August 2008. EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT

Valencia, Spain - Ferrari's Felipe Massa claimed pole position in qualifying Saturday for the European Grand Prix as Formula One makes its debut on the street circuit of Valencia.

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren-Mercedes had to be content with second place after the Brazilian driver edged his previous fastest lap by 0.210 seconds for a faultless 1 minute 38.989.

It was the fourth pole of the season for Massa and 13th of his career as he goes into the race eight points behind Britain's Hamilton in the drivers' standings.

Robert Kubica of BMW Sauber put in a fast late lap on the newly-designed 5.440-kilometre circuit in Valencia to clinch third place ahead of defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen in a Ferrari

''For sure you always want to be on top and starting on the pole position here for the first time is very nice,' said Massa.

'The track here is not very easy, especially the surface, which is a little slippery, so to make the perfect lap is difficult.

'But it's a nice track and let's hope we can have a good race, we will do our best.'

Hamilton predicted a tough race but remained confident.

'In sector one he (Massa) destroyed everyone. He's going to be hard to beat tomorrow,' he said.

'The last lap was pretty good but there is always time somewhere. Ferrari will be hard to beat but we will push hard.'

Hamilton's team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, who won the last race in Hungary three weeks ago, was fifth and Sebastien Vettel in a Toro Rosso a career-best sixth.

Jarno Trulli of Italy in a Toyota was seventh but will start from 12th on the grid after incurring a penalty for a change of gearbox.

Nick Heidfeld of Germany in a BMW Sauber, Nico Rosberg of Germany in a Williams and Sebastien Bourdais of France in a Toro Rosso made up the leading 10.

Renault's Fernando Alonso, hoping for a good showing in front of home fans, failed to make the top 10 for the final qualifying session after being squeezed out in the second training round and begins in the sixth row.

Also to miss the cut for the final session were Kazuki Nakajima (Williams), Timo Glock (Toyota), Mark Webber (Red Bull) and Nelso Piquet Jr (Renault)

Adrian Sutil (Force India), Rubens Barrichello (Honda), Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India), David Coulthard (Red Bull) and Jenson Button (Honda) all went out after the first qualifying session.

Hamilton leads the drivers' standings going into Sunday's race on 62 points, ahead of Raikkonen (57), Massa (54) and Kubica (49).