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Heidfeld qualifies 5th on Belgian GP grid
By BMW Sauber F1 Team September 6 2008
For the second race in a row, both BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers have claimed top-ten positions in a Formula One qualifying session: At the "Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps" Nick Heidfeld secured fifth on the Belgian Grand Prix grid, while Robert Kubica finished eighth.

On a dry track, and with temperatures of 17 degrees Celsius, the driver pairing contested the first phase of the qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps. After six minutes, Robert and Nick went out for the first time. Nick needed just one run to make it into the top 15. On his fourth lap the 31-year-old clocked his personal best time of 1:47.419 minutes, finished 14th on the timesheets and was able to make do without a second outing. Robert, however, set his personal best time at his second attempt. With a lap time of 1:47.093 minutes he claimed seventh. Toro Rosso's Sébastien Bourdais was the fastest driver of the first qualifying leg, posting a best time of 1:46.777 minutes.

Eliminated: Rubens Barrichello, Jenson Button, Adrian Sutil, Kazuki Nakajima and Giancarlo Fisichella.

In the second qualifying phase, Nick and Robert were the last two drivers to set their first times on the 7.004-kilometre track. With a 1:46.311-minute lap, Nick proved the high potential of the BMW Sauber F1.08 on a low fuel load and took fourth. Robert secured seventh, posting a time of 1:46.839 minutes. Both BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers took to the track a second time shortly before the end of the 15-minute session - and Robert succeeded in improving his time to 1:46.494 minutes, thus consolidating seventh in the classification. Nick remained fourth. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) clocked the fastest lap of the session, being just 0.274 seconds faster than Nick.

Eliminated: Jarno Trulli, Nelson Piquet, Timo Glock, David Coulthard and Nico Rosberg.

The BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers had two opportunities to set quick lap times in the decisive qualifying showdown. At his first attempt, Nick once again claimed fourth, setting a 1:48.603-minute lap time. Robert took eighth with a time of 1:49.577 minutes. Following two quick tyre changes, the pairing rejoined the action and improved their times again. Nick crossed the line in 1:48.315 minutes, which finally put him fifth in the classification. With a lap time of 1:48.763 minutes Robert remained in eighth. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) claimed pole position.

Result: 1st Lewis Hamilton, 2nd Felipe Massa, 3rd Heikki Kovalainen, 4th Kimi Räikkönen, 5th Nick Heidfeld, 6th Fernando Alonso, 7th Mark Webber, 8th Robert Kubica, 9th Sébastien Bourdais, 10th Sebastian Vettel.

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