Hamilton Grabs Pole Position At Canadian Grand Prix

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Britain’s Lewis Hamilton Saturday grabbed his first Formula One career pole position Saturday, edging McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso for Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

“I was so chuffed when I crossed the line and they told me I was P1,” said 22-year-old Hamilton who posted 1 minute 15.707 seconds in qualifying on the 4.361-kilometre Gilles Villeneuve circuit. Montreal (eCanadaNow) - Britain’s Lewis Hamilton Saturday grabbed his first Formula One career pole position Saturday, edging McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso for Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

“I was so chuffed when I crossed the line and they told me I was P1,” said 22-year-old Hamilton who posted 1 minute 15.707 seconds in qualifying on the 4.361-kilometre Gilles Villeneuve circuit.

“Tomorrow is going to be tough as always but I am starting from pole for the first time. I had an opportunity to go out and take pole and this time I took it. I feel fantastic, I have never felt so good.”

McLaren were further boosted by a third-fastest time by BMW-Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld of Germany to leave main Ferrari rivals Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa fourth and fifth respectively.

Hamilton was 0.456 seconds faster than world champion Alonso of Spain who clocked fastest times in the first two sectors but lost six tenths of a second in the final section.

Alonso said he lost grip before going into the final chicane.

“The front row will be enough for today and there will be another chance in the race on Sunday,” he said.

Alonso and Hamilton are level at the top of the drivers’ standings with 38 points apiece, but the Briton will now be looking for his maiden Grand Prix victory in his debut season after five podium places including four consecutive second-place finishes.

Massa of Brazil is five points behind on 33, with Raikkonen of Finland 23 points and Heidfeld on 18 points.