After setting the fourth fastest time in practice, it also went wrong for Nelson Piquet when it counted. The Brazilian rookie starts 16th in the second Renault after lapping some eight-tenths of a second slower in qualifying than he did in practice. It was a similar case for Bourdais who really struggled with his Toro Rosso Ferrari and also lapped slower than his practice pace.

Rubens Barrichello lines up 18th in the second Honda ahead of Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella in the Force India Ferraris. For Fisichella, the day was a nightmare following an accident in practice that saw him miss most of the first qualifying session only for the Italian veteran to nose the VJM01 into the barriers at turn three on his very first flying lap.

If qualifying is anything to go by, Massa is going to be hard to beat tomorrow evening...

Earl ALEXANDER
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