Monaco GP 2008 : Qualifying - Massa on poll...

McLaren could close the gap to Ferrari this weekend on the street circuit of Monaco, unless Ferrari have a trick up their sleeves of course.Ferrari say that this will be a test to see if this years car has improved from last years long wheel based car, that had obvious problems around the tight track.
This is a race that can throw up a six where getting the car on the front row is vital.A good driver who gets on well with this circuit; Hamilton, Alonso, Coulthard, and possibly Raikkonen and Kubica, will out drive another driver - Massa...and, well...all the other drivers - even if they have a better car.Pole position is vital though.No driver has won from further back than 4th.
Enjoy the preview video.

Monaco Grand Prix on ITV

Live qualifying Saturday 24 May 1210-1435 ITV1

Qualifying highlights Sunday 25 May 0925-1150 ITV4

Live race Sunday 25 May 1155-1520 ITV1

Highlights Monday 26 May 0005-0105 ITV1

Highlights re-run Monday 26 May 1800-1900 ITV4

Free practice session two times

1. HAMILTON McLaren 1m15.140s
2. ROSBERG Williams 1m15.533s
3. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m15.572s
4. MASSA Ferrari 1m15.869s
5. KOVALAINEN McLaren 1m15.881s
6. KUBICA BMW 1m16.296s
7. ALONSO Renault 1m16.310s
8. BUTTON Honda 1m16.351s
9. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m16.372s
10. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m16.418s
11. HEIDFELD BMW 1m16.426s
12. GLOCK Toyota 1m16.688s
13. WEBBER Red Bull 1m17.094s
14. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m17.131s
15. PIQUET Renault 1m17.246s
16. FISICHELLA Force India 1m17.251s
17. TRULLI Toyota 1m17.379s
18. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso 1m17.581s
19. SUTIL Force India 1m18.176s
20. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m18.225s

Forget the practise times you see above, Ferrari have pulled the wool over every ones eyes with a front row lock-out.Massa even surprised himself, as well as shutting up his critics (i myself being well and truly, 'shut up') by getting a stunning poll position...
Hamiliton looked as if he had been kicked in the bo**ocks in the press conference, and then was - with shaky hands - trying to look cool about it.No one predicted this result, i even told my boss to watch the GP because Lewis was gonna walk it!...well he still might, but he's going to have to pull something out of the bag.Respect to the Massa though, i have always called him a 'on-trick-pony' but it looks like he can juggle Monaco as well as the high speed Tilk circuits.
Coulthard qualified tenth after crashing in the tunnel at 185mph put him out of quali three.He hit the barrier and disappeared down the run-off road at the harbour chicane.His left front wheel however, took a perfect race line through the chicane and continued on it's way; possibly crossing the timing beam and setting fastest sector.Coulthard could be the first driver to qualify a car on two different grid spots, one being his wheel...
A good effort from Kubica, but it could have been better.Kubica qualified 5th but lost three tenths after being blocked at the final corner by a car on it's slowing down lap.Could be rain tomorrow, which will make things even more unpredictable.Hopefully.

Monaco GP provisional grid

1. MASSA Ferrari
2. RAIKKONEN Ferrari
3. HAMILTON McLaren
4. KOVALAINEN McLaren
5. KUBICA BMW
6. ROSBERG Williams
7. ALONSO Renault
8. TRULLI Toyota
9. WEBBER Red Bull
10. COULTHARD Red Bull
11. GLOCK Toyota
12. BUTTON Honda
13. HEIDFELD BMW
14. NAKAJIMA Williams
15. BARRICHELLO Honda
16. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso
17. PIQUET Renault
18. SUTIL Force India
19. FISICHELLA Force India
20. VETTEL Toro Rosso*
* penalised for gearbox change