Massa sets himself up for a grandstand finish in F1 championship
November 2, 2008
Felipe Massa has taken his third consecutive pole at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Two years ago he won the race, a result he is wanting to repeat to have a chance to claim the 2008 F1 drivers championship. His championship rival, Lewis Hamilton was in fourth place after Jarno Trulli qualified second fastest and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen took third.
Massa took pole with a time of 1:12.338, well ahead of Trulli’s 1:12.737. Hamilton recorded 1:12.830. Hamilton and Massa had gone quicker in Q2. Heikki Kovalainen was actually quickest on the day however it is the time in the third qualifying session that counts. Kovalainen lapped in 1:11.768 in Q2, so it shows that the McLaren’s do have pace around the Sao Paulo track.
The championship now comes down to the final race. Hamilton knows what is required to take the championship for formula one. Fifth place or better will give him the title. Anything less leaves the door open for Massa. Hamilton said this year he feels more relaxed thinking that this is just another race. Last year he built up the occasion too much and failed as the weight of expectation was too much to handle.
Like last year, Hamilton holds a seven point margin over Massa. The Ferrari driver is driving in his home country and delighted himself, the team and the thousands of Brazilian fans at the track when he claimed pole. Massa is attempting to be the first Brazilian since Ayrton Senna in 1991, to win the f1 drivers championship.
In claiming pole position Massa became the first man ever to set three consecutive poles at Interlagos.
F1 fans are now counting the hours until the deciding race. I can’t wait.
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