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The Circuit

Hamilton leaves it late for Hockenheim pole

  • Story Highlights
  • Lewis Hamilton claims pole positon for Sunday's German Grand Prix
  • McLaren star edges out Felipe Massa of Ferrari with his final lap
  • Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli will occupy the second row
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HOCKENHEIM, Germany -- World championship leader Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for Sunday's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim with a storming final lap of qualifying.

Hamilton powers his McLaren to pole position at Hockenheim.

Hamilton, who won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone last weekend to regain the title lead, clocked one minute 15.666 seconds to relegate Ferrari's Felipe Massa to second on the grid.

The pair had dominated Saturday's qualifying with Massa quickest in the opening segment before Hamilton claimed the best time on the second runs.

Hamilton's McLaren teammate Heikki Kovalainen recovered from an earlier mistake to claim third place ahead of Toyota's Jarno Trulli and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso in a Renault.

Reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen fnished a disappointing sixth fastest in his Ferrari as he appeared to struggle for grip in very windy conditions.

Hamilton said he had always been confident of pole after getting his season back on track with his magnificent win in the rain at his home grand prix.

"My final lap I was quite happy with it, it went very smoothly," said the Briton.

"I knew I had the pace. I felt quite comfortable and could have been a bit quicker if I needed to," he added.

Teammate Kovalainen had no doubt about the quality of Hamilton's performance saying he had "absolutely nailed it."

BMW's Robert Kubica claimed seventh fastest with Red Bull's Mark Webber joining him on the fourth row.

Hamilton leads a three-way tie at the top of Formula One's championship, ahead of Ferrari pair Massa and Raikkonen.

All three drivers have 48 points, two better than Poland's Kubica, in the closest title race in years.

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