Brazilian Grand Prix - Massa takes vital pole at Interlagos

Ferrari's Felipe Massa keeps his title hopes alive with a dominant pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix. Alongside him on the front row will be the Toyota of Jarno Trulli. Kimi Raikkonen will start third in the second Ferrari, with championship leader Lewis Hamilton fourth and McLaren team mate Heikki Kovalainen fifth.

Either McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton or Ferrari’s Felipe Massa will be crowned 2008 drivers’ champion at this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix. With a seven-point lead, Hamilton is very much the favourite, but as we saw at Interlagos last year - when outsider Kimi Raikkonen came from behind to win - anything is possible. Here is what each man needs in order to take the title… Hamilton will be champion if: - He finishes fifth or higher - He finishes sixth and Massa is second or lower - He finishes seventh and Massa is second or lower - He finishes eighth and Massa is third or lower - He fails to score and Massa is third or lower Massa will be champion if: - He wins and Hamilton finishes sixth or lower - He finishes second and Hamilton is eighth or lower If the pair are tied on points at the end of Sunday afternoon (which would happen is Massa wins with Hamilton sixth, or if Massa finishes second with Hamilton eighth), Massa would win the title by virtue of more victories (six to Hamilton’s five) or more second-place finishes (three to Hamilton’s two). In the constructors’ championship, Ferrari’s 11-point advantage over McLaren heading to Brazil puts them in a powerful position, while BMW Sauber’s 10-point deficit to McLaren means they still have an outside chance of stealing second place.