Happy Hamilton hoping for wet race

The British rookie punched the air in jubilation after crossing the finish line on his final lap to beat Alonso by just 0.070 seconds.

It was Hamilton's fifth pole of the season and the McLaren driver will be looking to extend his championship lead in tomorrow's race.

The Briton, who has scored his three victories from pole, is two points ahead of Alonso with three races to go.

Hamilton said he is hoping the weather stays wet tomorrow, although he admitted he wouldn't be worried if the race is in the dry.

"I hope it is wet, but I am not bothered either way," Hamilton said. "Yesterday we were good in second practice, we were happy with the balance of the car and the team have been working hard.

"We have come here and made another step forward. I think it will be exciting."

He added: "It was a good session for us. The whole weekend started off better than others, and we had a good car today. Tricky conditions out there. We didn't know track in the wet, but the team did a fantastic job to get the set-up right.

"When you are out there you don't know where you are, the gap, how much time is left, but we timed it to perfection.

"It was quite a good lap. I knew coming across the line I had my last chance to get it. I lost a bit of time coming out of the last corner and I didn't know what the car was doing. I saw it on the TV above the pits and then I punched the air."

Despite the pressure from Alonso and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, Hamilton said he was relaxed ahead of the race.

"I am quite relaxed if I am honest. With the way this weekend has gone I am even more relaxed. I have these two (Alonso and Raikkonen) breathing down my neck and I am not bothered.

"I feel car is underneath me this weekend. It is key getting down to the first corner and leading."

Hamilton said he would race Alonso hard tomorrow, but he did not expect any dramas following Spa.

"We will race. We are going to race. Obviously as Fernando said, we are not idiots. We want to finish the race and score points, we will attack each other but I hope in a fair manner."