Kubica poles apart from F1 rivals

AFP, April, 2008

MANAMA (AFP) — Robert Kubica, the first Polish driver in Formula One, secured the first pole position of his career here on Saturday when he planted his BMW at the front of the grid for Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old from Krakow, taking part in only his 27th Grand Prix, outpaced nearest rivals Brazilian Felipe Massa of Ferrari and old friend and current Drivers Championship leading Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.

Kubica recorded a fastest lap of one minute and 33.096 seconds in the final stages of the third part-section of the Saturday session to give his team their first prime starting place.

"After yesterday, I knew I had to develop things a bit and I managed to do that a lot," said a deadpan Kubica afterwards.

"It was quite a good lap and the first time pole position for me."

He explained that ...