Kovalainen on pole

The Finn blitzed the circuit, finishing half a second quicker than the most unlikely candidate to join him on the front row in Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Kimi Raikkonen will start third in his Ferrari, with Hamilton next up following one of the most dramatic qualifying shoot-outs of the season.

Not that sitting on pole makes much difference at this circuit as there have only been two winners from that position in the last 10 years - Fernando Alonso in 2006 and Rubens Barrichello in 2003.

It is also due to rain throughout Sunday, adding to the drama in what will be the penultimate grand prix at this track following confirmation on Friday that Donington Park will play hosts from 2010.

Ahead of the race, Raikkonen stands a point away from becoming only the seventh driver in F1 history to reach the 500-point mark.

The Finn is also bidding to become the first Ferrari driver since Alberto Ascari in 1952 and 1953 to win back-to-back British Grand Prix.

But he faces a tricky task with his fellow Finn ahead of him, as well as Webber who produced the qualifying performance of his life.

As for Hamilton, he effectively blew it as on his first flying lap in the closing 10-minute Q3 he ran wide on to the gravel going into Priory.

Behind him come Renault's Fernando Alonso and the BMW Sauber of Nick Heidfeld, followed by the Toro Rosso of Sebastien Vettel.