Timothy Collings' Qualifying Report - Belgian GP

Mika Hakkinen seized pole position for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix after an accomplished qualifying performance on Saturday.

However, the McLaren driver, who is chasing his third consecutive world drivers' title, acknowledged he was nervous about starting alongside the relatively inexperienced Jarno Trulli and Jenson Button.

The Finn was seven tenths of a second clear of Italian Trulli, in a Jordan, and Briton Button, in a Williams, after the trio had outpaced German Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari and Briton David Coulthard in the second McLaren.

"Of course, I am worried about these guys at the start," said Hakkinen. "We have never been in this position before and I don't know what they are going to do.

"I know what Michael likes to do going into the first corner....and I know what David does at the start and the first corner as well. But I am not seriously worried, just a little concerned."

Championship leader Hakkinen secured his fifth pole of the year and the 26th of his career with a best time of 1:50.646, holding off a strong challenge from Trulli in the process.

"We made a lot of changes to the car during the day and they paid off," said Hakkinen. "The real trick here is to find the right set-up because it is a tricky track. To get a really fast lap time, you have to get it all right."

Hakkinen's understated joy was understandable as he has never won the Belgian Grand Prix and his chief rival for the title, Schumacher, has won it four times, and also regards it as his favourite circuit.

Best Qualifying Position

Button achieved the best qualifying position of his career, and his confidence in the week after he had announced his loan transfer from Williams to Benetton for the 2001 and 2002 seasons was easily apparent.

"I was aiming for the top six, not third, so it is a bit of a shock," he said. "But it was fantastic to drive around here and to see the British fans in the crowd. To be honest, I feel really ecstatic. It's just great."

Button's performance was widely regarded as a significant endorsement of his talent while Trulli's effort followed his second-on-the-grid performance at this year's Monaco Grand Prix for Jordan.

"Yes, it is very different from Monaco, but I managed to just do everything right," he said.

Trulli allayed Hakkinen's fears about the start and said he had no intention of taking any risks. "I just want to finish and to score points in this race, I have had too much bad luck this year," he said.

The session was run in near-perfect dry and warm conditions at the often rain-lashed Spa-Francorchamps circuit, with Hakkinen setting the pace and only Trulli pushing him, briefly, out of the top position.

Schumacher, needing a good result on Sunday to keep alive his title challenge after leading the contest until the Hungary race two weeks ago, scraped into fourth place with a flying lap in the closing minute.