No Fisichella,no problem for Force India

Adrian Sutil nearly fetched a second successive pole position for Force India before McLarens world champion Lewis Hamilton pipped him to lock....

Adrian Sutil nearly fetched a second successive pole position for Force India before McLarens world champion Lewis Hamilton pipped him to lock the front row for Sundays Italian Grand Prix. Sutil,who had topped the timesheet in two of the three practice sessions,made a slight error in his final flyer through the first Lesmo to settle for the second place on the starting grid. Nonetheless,its his best ever performance in Q3.

This is a great moment,a great day for me, said Sutil. The car is amazing,really quick,unbelievable. Its so good for the team after the big success in Spa. We just continue it here. Theres just such a different feeling in the car right now.

Hamilton,who took his second pole of the season,said: It was a very close qualifying session and Im very happy to see Adrian up here. I dont think we anticipated being as quick as we are this week,so its a bonus for all the team.

Story continues below this ad

Sutils new Italian team mate,Vitantonio Liuzzi,also did well in his Force India F1 debut and will start seventh.

Ferraris Kimi Raikkonen will line up in third place with fellow Finn Heikki Kovalainen next to him in a McLaren. Unlike Sutil,both will have the benefit of a boost at the start from their KERS energy recovery systems. Championship leader Jenson Button qualified sixth,with Brawn GP team mate and closest title rival Rubens Barrichello alongside him in fifth place.

Ironically,Giancarlo Fisichella,who joined Ferrari after recording Force Indias maiden pole and podium finish in Belgium,could not make it to the third qualifying session and will start 14th.

Starting grid

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren

2. Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India

3. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari

4. Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) McLaren

5. Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Brawn

6. Jenson Button (GBR) Brawn

7. Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) Force India

8. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Renault

9. Sebastian Vettel (GER) RedBull

10. Mark Webber (AUS) RedBull

11. Jarno Trulli (ITA) Toyota

12. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Renault

13. Robert Kubica (POL) BMW

14. Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA) Ferrari

15. Nick Heidfeld (GER) BMW

16. Timo Glock (GER) Toyota

17. Kazuki Nakajima (JPN) Williams

18. Nico Rosberg (GER) Williams

19. Sebastien Buemi (SUI) Toro Rosso

20. Jaime Alguersuari (ESP) Toro Rosso

Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Geetanjali moves Supreme Court seeking Ladakh activist’s release

India12 min ago

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Geetanjali Angmo, has moved the Supreme Court, seeking his unconditional release. Sonam Wangchuk was arrested in Jodhpur on September 26 on charges pertaining to the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS