Hamilton - it could have been better - Sport in brief

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Hamilton's one minute 26.714 seconds was good enough to edge out Robert Kubica's BMW Sauber by 0.155secs, with McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen third at Albert Park.

"I could do better," he said. "Being on pole is a great feeling but you can always do better. Finding gaps is tricky, but I'm happy with the result."

The young Briton hit the front midway through Qualifying Three, setting a time of 1min 27.092secs, with Massa well-placed in second and Kovalainen third, albeit half a second adrift.

As the session expired, Kubica was the first to lay down the gauntlet, recording a lap of 1:26.869 although he lost vital fractions after running wide at turn 12.

And it proved crucial as Hamilton bettered the Pole's mark with a tidy effort to ensure he will start the 58-lap showdown from the best possible position.

He added: "Q1 was very, very close. I didn't get a good lap but in the last session, I was able to string it out and put the sectors together."

Kubica, meanwhile, hailed his second and team-mate Heidfeld's fifth place on the grid as a "great achievement" for BMW.

"I made a mistake in turn 12 and we took quite a lot of risk but it didn't pay off," he said. "But it's a great achievement by the team.

Kovalainen was also satisfied with third, and said: "It was fairly smooth, I was just trying to take things steady, not make any mistakes and push a bit more."