British GP: McLaren Saturday qualifying notes

Team McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen will start McLaren's home Grand Prix at Silverstone from the front row after setting a time of 1:20.397 in the closing seconds of an exciting qualifying session. Team mate Juan Pablo Montoya was eighth fastest with a 1:21.107.

Kimi Raikkonen:

"I'm really pleased being on the first row particularly at Silverstone where a lot of the guys from Woking and Brixworth are able to come and support us. The car was working well and in a way I'm a bit disappointed not to be on pole as we were so close."

"My final run was a bit tight -- I think there were only a few seconds left -- but we made it and were able to achieve second which is super. We made a lot of progress from yesterday, and I was really able to push."

"Now I look forward to the race tomorrow where we will do everything to do well. A win is possible, but so much can happen, but I'm really pleased with today's result and look forward to tomorrow."

Juan Pablo Montoya:

"I have not been able to get the right balance throughout the weekend and was struggling during qualifying today. I should be higher up the grid than eighth, and I'm disappointed with this. However there is a long race tomorrow, and as we have seen before anything can happen."

Ron Dennis:

"A great lap from Kimi to earn him and the whole team a well deserved front row position. Juan Pablo struggled a little with the balance of his car but will start the race knowing he has a good chance to get a strong result. Generally we struggled a little to get the best out of the tyres in the first section of the circuit, but hopefully this should not be an issue in tomorrow's race."

Norbert Haug:

"A super job by Kimi who managed his best qualifying lap crossing the line on the very last second before the final qualifying session was waved off which then gave him his front row grid position. With a gap of 0.144 seconds behind Fernando Alonso's pole position was on hand for Kimi."

"Tomorrow it all will depend on how the strategies unfold and how the teams make best use of their tyres on this tyre demanding circuit. Today was great for all of our colleagues from Woking and Brixworth -- thanks guys for all your efforts, I hope they will pay off at our home Grand Prix."

Chassis allocation
Kimi Raikkonen: MP4-21 06
Juan Pablo Montoya: MP4-21 05
T-car (Juan Pablo): MP4-21 04

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