Kovalainen tops Silverstone for first F1 pole.

...and he's probably heavier too!

Congratulations to both Heikki and Webber! For either driver it would've been a maiden pole.

I do question the articles statement about Heikki having a good amount of fuel on board.

Looking at time drop of Q3 versus Q2, can give an idea of fuel load. Better cars drop less time too.

Heikki appears to be the lowest fuelled and by clear margin. Just 1.45s, Raikkonen next in line with 1.74s then Webber with 1.84s. Massa & Vettel are fuelled long.

1 Kovalainen 1.45s
2 Webber 1.84s
3 Räikkönen 1.74s
4 Hamilton 2.30s
5 Heidfeld 2.07s
6 Alonso 2.03s
7 Piquet 2.38s
8 Vettel 3.14s
9 Massa 3.22s
10 Kubica - No time after his Q3 off.

Still, a very promising race!!

What, no comments from Lewis? That's so out of character: well at least his driving is finally doing the talking.

No Gordo - I'm sure Lewis made some very reasonably comments that this sensationalist website declined to publish, instead describing the crowd as "shattered" by Kovalinene's pole.

In fact, most people I've spoken to were quite happy for Heikki!

try learning to read hologide - it actually sez kovalainen's performance shattered hamilton's dreams of taking pole in front of his home fans, not left the crowd shattered. i'm sure lots of people are happy for heikki - i know i am - it's a thoroughly well deserved result.

phil c. massa's times cannot be compared as he had a wheel problem in Q2 and then a driving problem in Q3. so he could in fact be running quite light. he will need to get past a few in the first few laps. vettel is plainly running heavy. his times when light were exceptional, so i presume that he is going for a 1 stop strategy. he could spring a surprise tomorrow particularly if it is wet.

Bravo! His first pole and then a celebratory grope from Nelson.

The lucky dog.

LH time doesn't reflect much, too. He made a mistake in his first run and clearly lost some confidence slowing down too much in same spot later. I doubt he is much heavier than HK.

Hamilton didn't do too badly. The first lap he screwed up on in Quali 3, his time was -0.7 up on pole position coming into the end of the lap...before he screwed up.
Then again Kubica also screwed up, so luckily the Hamilton Haters can't say much.

4th place isn't bad considering you could see he didn't push it too hard - to make sure he got a good grid slot.

Massa is 9th!

"lulu screwed up. Then again Kubica also screwed up". Right mate, that explains it. lulu is redeemed because Kubica had an excursion into the field.

ferdi dearest, i did not screw up, i just wanted to be closer to you. watch my backside tomorrow.

According to the statement Heikki gave to the Finnish press, he had a normal amount of gasoline in the tank and normally it ahs meant that his car have been heavier than others.

I won't hold my breath, but I will prepare myself with a cream or something: but, knowing you you'll be probably aiming for nicer looking lads, like Kimi or DC. Or, maybe you'll want to kiss and make up with JB?

That Musihukitu and the fact that McLaren have put Heikki on the heavy fuel load I think every race.

I don't mean to sound like a Hamilton hater, but did it sound a bit funny when the team had to tell him over the radio to not over-drive? They said it almost as if they were talking to a child. You'd think a formula one driver could know on his own when he was over-driving and how not to do it.

Steve I agree that drivers should not need that kind of instruction, but how many times have we heard the engineers tell a driver to push or to catch and pass someone in front of them. Also today they told vettel in Q3 he was shooting for 6th. It kinda goes back to what Sir Jackie said about drivers needing a coach.

Richard, I'm happy you agree that Vettel is heavy on fuel.

However, I'm a little confused by your comments on Massa. They seem to be contradictory.

Re: phil c. massa's times cannot be compared as he had a wheel problem in Q2 and then a driving problem in Q3. so he could in fact be running quite light. he will need to get past a few in the first few laps.

ie Wheel trouble = slower Q2
ie Driver error = slower Q3

So depending on size of error / extent of detriment in Q2 & Q3 means the gap is still 3s. This still suggests a heavy fuel load.

Are you suggesting that his error's in Q3 were of much greater proportion? If this is correct, then I agree he will need quick progress.

spam!! get it off..