CHINA: MOTOR RACING - Praise for Lewis Hamilton by his fans after he seizes pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton beats his rivals Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso to go fastest. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton strung together a commanding lap on Saturday (October 6) to take the important pole position for Sunday's (October 7) Chinese Grand Prix and push his rivals down the grid behind him. The 22-year-old Briton, winner in the rain and spray of Japan last weekend, was lying fourth with minutes left in the qualifying session when he put together a near perfect lap. Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa in the Ferraris attempted to match him but failed and had to settle for second and third. Hamilton's team mate and chief rival Fernando Alonso came off worst with fourth place, presenting the Spaniard with task of fighting his way past the Ferraris if he is to catch Hamilton. Alonso is 12 points behind Hamilton, and must finish ahead of the Briton on Sunday if the championship fight is to continue to the Brazilian Grand Prix, the last race of the season. Hamilton was earlier relieved by the decision of stewards the previous evening not to punish him for alleged erratic driving at Fuji. He spent most of Friday (October 5) with the spectre of what would have been a devastating punishment hanging over him after suggestions that he had triggered a crash while leading behind the safety car at Fuji. The decision to impose none lifted the gloom. Alonso, however, did not attempt to hide his anger after the session, having earlier told Italy's Sky television that the championship "has been decided off the track." Hamilton fans were raving about his performance to clinch pole position during the qualifying race on Saturday (October 6). "Fantastic, he is going to win tomorrow, no question. He is going to be world champion, he is going to be the best thing for years. So, full stop, I am so happy," said Tim Addison. Alonso fans were also optimistic about his chances on Sunday despite showing disappointment for his starting grid position. "I think he did pretty good. Unfortunately he only made it to fourth place. Let's hope tomorrow they can turn the tables around," said Enrique de Paumard. Raikkonen, 17 points behind Hamilton, also recognised that his title hopes were slim but the Finn was no less determined. And his fans were sure he had an equal chance to clinch the chequered flag in Shanghai. "I think he still has a chance. He did very well during the practice sessions. So during the main race tomorrow, who knows, maybe he can overtake them with some kind of pit stop or race strategy," said Wang Shuo (pron: wang shu-ore). Hamilton said he did not mind if it rained or not and added that he had learnt from his Fuji experience. Briton David Coulthard qualified fifth for Red Bull with Ralf Schumacher, who announced on Monday that he was leaving Toyota, sixth. Australian Mark Webber starts on the fourth row for Red Bull with Germany's Nick Heidfeld in a BMW Sauber.

ITN Source | October 7, 2007

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