Hakkinen on pole in Hungary

The Finn fended off team-mate David Coulthard and, more importantly, title rival Eddie Irvine to start the Hungarian Grand Prix from top spot.

He picked up his ninth pole start in 11 races and 19th of his career to start from the very front for a race that could be crucial in deciding the outcome of the world championship.

The world champion set his best time on his very first qualifying run after just 20 minutes and it was never bettered.

It is six weeks and four races since he last took victory.

At a circuit where overtaking is almost impossible in equal cars, it could prove the vital difference in Sunday's race.

Irvine, who leads Hakkinen by eight points in the championship, came within a tenth of a second but could go no better in a race in which neither he now Irvine have finished this gruelling race on the podium.

'There are some negative memories about the tyres after the last race but we are feeling very positive here,' said Hakkinen afterwards.

The Finn was competing before a host of blue Finnish national flags carrying his face with thousands of his fellow countrymen having flown in on extra flights from Helsinki laid on for the race.

'There have been about 23 extra flights coming for this weekend - its great to see so many Finns, and more and more are coming because of our performance and with Mika Salo at Ferrari. The whole of Finland is watching the race.'

'I think the whole of Finland are here,' Irvine joked.