Raikkonen grabs pole

12 April 2012

Kimi Raikkonen narrowly pipped Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa to pole position for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix by just seventeen thousandths of a second.

Just six days after being trounced on home turf by the McLarens in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the Maranello marque were back on the pace around the seven kilometre Spa circuit.

Lewis Hamilton, who currently leads the world championship by just three points from McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso, will start fourth on the grid behind the Spaniard.

It is the third time this season Raikkonen has qualified on pole for Ferrari, and 13th of his career, with the Finn now firmly in the driving seat for a third successive victory on this track.

Raikkonen currently trails Hamilton by 18 points, with Massa 23 adrift, and another one-two here from the duo - as in Turkey three weeks ago - will keep them firmly in the hunt.

Hamilton was typically first out at the start of Q3, but allowed Massa to pass him on the straight into Les Combes on the outlap.

The 22-year-old appeared to be thrown by Massa's move as he then ran slightly wide on to the grass through the corner complex. Yet Hamilton recovered sufficiently to set the fastest lap on the first set of fresh rubber, prior to the Ferraris taking control, with Raikkonen in particular.

Robert Kubica required an engine change following final practice, and although qualifying fifth, will officially start 15th due to a 10-place grid penalty.

Nico Rosberg now starts fifth for Williams, followed by the BMW Sauber of Nick Heidfeld, Mark Webber for Red Bull Racing, Jarno Trulli in his Toyota, with Heikki Kovalainen and Ralf Schumacher completing the top 10.

David Coulthard is 11th for Red Bull Racing, with the veteran Scot out-qualified for the 13th time in 14 grands prix this season by Webber. Directly behind Coulthard comes Jenson Button for Honda in 12th, while Anthony Davidson is down in 20th.

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